Extended Unit Program Description

Level I & Level II CPE

(Download a PDF of this information.)

Purpose: To provide an accredited program of clinical pastoral education for:

1. Community Clergy seeking a significant continuing education opportunity that will:
   
   a. Enhance pastoral care and counseling skills
   b. Provide an ecumenical peer support group to gain perspective on a variety of issues of ministry.
   c. Provide an opportunity for personal and professional reflection and growth in ministry.
   
   
2. Laypersons in our community who have significant motivation for ministries of pastoral care that will:
   
   a. Provide an experiential learning program to enhance basic pastoral relationship skills.
   b. Provide an ecumenical peer support group for person committed to or exploring ministry.
   c. Provide an opportunity fore personal growth in ministry.

A. Certification of Training

Successful completion of a minimum of 440 hours of supervised learning will provide the participating interns with credit for one unit of Level I CPE. St. Luke’s Clinical Pastoral Education Center has been accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc., since 1974.

B. Time Structure of Program

1. The Extended Unit CPE program is a seven-month program, beginning the second week of October and continuing through to the following May. Time is allowed during the year for breaks so that active pastors and lay people can serve the busy seasons and holy days of the calendar. This schedule averages a total of 32 weekly meetings.
2. According to the ACPE Standards*, the total time required for an accredited unit of CPE is a minimum of 400 hours of training that includes both at least 300 contact hours of patient visitation and at least 100 of instruction and peer group reflection.
3. The Extended Unit intern will be expected to join the peer group on a predetermined weekday of each week during the unit for an eight-hour session beginning at 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. These eight-hour days will be divided into four hours of instruction and group time and four hours of clinical rounds on assigned patient units.
4. The Extended Unit intern is a paid position. Since this is a part-time Temporary position there are no benefits. The Extended Unit Intern will work assigned shifts to the Medical Center. These shifts may include both weekday evenings (M-F 3-11:30 p.m. or
   11 p.m.-7:30 a.m.) or weekends (7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., 3-11:30 p.m., or 11 p.m.-7:30 a.m.). The intern is expected to do rounds and respond to emergency calls in the medical center during their assigned shift.
   

C. Clinical Pastoral Assignment/Responsibility

1. During orientation, interns will have an opportunity to express preference for assigned patient units within the hospital, based on the interns’ learning goals. These assignments will be considered the intern’s “parish’ (which may be shared with staff chaplains who will mentor the intern).

2. The intern’s immediate responsibility as a member of the health care team is always to the charge nurse on duty, the department director, or the nursing supervisor for any treatment or administrative concerns. The intern is responsible to the ACPE Supervisor for ministry and training concerns.

D. Seminars & Supervision

Following an extensive orientation there will be regularly scheduled seminars each week:

1. Verbatim Seminars: (1-1½ hours) One intern will be responsible at each seminar for presentation of clinical materials (verbatims) from a pastoral care relationship for group supervision.

2. Interpersonal Relations Seminars: (1½-2 hours) Open agenda; peer group interaction for any personal, professional, or interpersonal concerns.

3. Didactic Seminars: (1-1½ hours) Each presentation will be made by the ACPE Supervisor, staff chaplains, hospital staff, or other community resource persons.

4. During the Unit, the intern group will participate in a 20-hour HRD Seminar. This listening skill curriculum will use printed materials, multimedia, and videotape. Role-play to learn and improve listening and responding skills.

5. Required Individual Supervisory Sessions with the ACPE Supervisor where the agenda is primarily the intern’s to discuss personal and professional concerns and clarify learning issues.

E. Written Work & Other Responsibilities

1. Preparation of verbatims or other clinical material for presentation to assigned verbatim seminar

2. Preparation of weekly summaries or other materials as requested for individual supervision.

3. Sharing responsibility for centering devotions in rotation with CPE group.

4. Two written book reports will be required. The ACPE Supervisor will make individual assignments and suggestions.

5. A theodicy paper, which reviews the intern’s theological understanding of suffering in the world.

6. Written mid-unit and final evaluation of progress will be prepared and shared with the training group.

7. Visitation reports that help the department with continuity of care and quality improvement.

F. Admission to Program

Admission is based on:

• A completed ACPE application with application fee.

• An admission interview with a qualified interviewer.

• High school diploma or GED equivalent. A bachelor degree from an accredited college or university is preferred.

• Participation in some form of theological education/pastoral education and/or active participation in a community of faith

• A proven aptitude for interpersonal work, sound mental/emotional health, and the ability to minister in a cross-cultural, interfaith setting.

G. Cost

• A non-refundable $25 application fee submitted with ACPE application (credited toward tuition)

• A $300 non-refundable deposit upon acceptance to unit of CPE (credited toward tuition, remaining balance of $275 due on the first day of the unit).

• Unit tuition: $600

• Required books: $30

H. St. Luke’s Staff

1. Rev. Rich Gorman, Clinical Supervisor
Board Certified Chaplain, Association of Professional Chaplains

2. Rev. Richard (Alex) Chamberlain, Staff Chaplain
Board Certified Chaplain, Association of Professional Chaplains

3. Rev. Brian Greenwood, Associate Chaplain – Hospice

4. Rev. Cheryl Haney, Chaplain/OR Liaison
Affiliate Member, Association of Professional Chaplains

5. Rev. Karla Nielsen, Staff Chaplain
Pending Board Certified Chaplain, Association of Professional Chaplains

6. Rev. Kelly Loy, Staff Chaplain
Board Certified Chaplain, Association of Professional Chaplains

7. Greg Nealon, Associate Chaplain

I. National/Regional Offices

• ACPE Executive Director:
  Rev. Teresa E. Snorton, D.Min.
  Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
  1549 Clairmont Road, Suite 103
  Decatur, GA 30033
  (404) 320-1472

• ACPE Pacific Region Director:
  Rev. John Moody
  1245 Young Street Ste. 204
  Honolulu, HI 96814
  (808) 591-6556
  phm@pacifichealthministry.org

*Standards can be found on the Web at www.acpe.edu.