Clinical Pastoral Education

Interdisciplinary Ministry Training

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an inter-faith professional development program designed to prepare students to provide spiritual care. It brings students (future or current ministers, rabbis, imams and other spiritual care providers) into supervised encounters with people in crisis or health transitions.

Out of an intense involvement with people in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop a new awareness of themselves and the needs of others. From theological reflection on specific situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping people, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships.

The St. Cloud Hospital CPE Program is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, ACPE.

What Are the Essential Elements of CPE?

  • Ministry to individuals in a clinical setting
  • Detailed reporting and evaluation of that ministry
  • A process model of learning
  • One-to-one consultation with an ACPE Certified Educator
  • Collaboration with the hospital’s interdisciplinary team, including mentorship by staff chaplains
  • A small group of peers (4-6 students) in a common learning experience
  • An individual contract for learning consistent with the objectives of CPE
  • Theological and spiritual reflection and formation

What Might Be Included in the Individual Learning Contract?

  • Spiritual Formation and Integration – Learn how your narrative history, socio-cultural identity, and spiritual/values-based orienting system impact your practice of spiritual care.
  • Awareness of Self and Others – Explore how self-care, justice-seeking awareness of bias and intercultural and interreligious humility impact your practice of spiritual care.
  • Relational Dynamics – Reflect on how empathy, relational boundaries, and group dynamics are integral to spiritual care.
  • Spiritual Care Interventions – Develop spiritual care relationships, use cultural, religious and spiritual resources, spiritual assessments and care plans, and document as a member of an interdisciplinary team to provide spiritual care interventions.
  • Professional Development – Engage the clinical method of learning, abide by ethical practice and professionalism, grow through consultation and feedback, invest in teamwork and collaboration, and become research literate as a spiritual care professional.

What Does CPE Prepare You to Do?

CPE serves as a part of preparation for parish ministry, chaplaincy, lay ministry, teaching and counseling. A student’s learning contract may be focused toward integration of theological, psychological and pastoral insights into pastoral functioning for parish work. The contract also may be designed with a career goal of chaplaincy or pastoral counseling. CPE develops the capacity for the pastoral/spiritual care of individuals, families and systems.

Some students, after completing several units of CPE, choose to enroll in Certified Educator CPE to work toward certification as a CPE Certified Educator. In Certified Educator CPE, students learn the theory and practice of supervising CPE students under the guidance and with the consultation of a CPE Certified Educator.

Many theological schools require one unit of CPE as a part of a theological degree program. Other schools accept a year of CPE as the required intern year of ministry for a theological degree program. A number of theological schools which are members of the ACPE have graduate degree programs which combine academic study and Certified Educator CPE.

What Are the Different Types of CPE?

ACPE offers Level I and Level II CPE, as well as Certified Educator CPE. The levels are taken in sequence, and outcomes for each level must be completed before moving to the next level.

CPE is usually offered in single units (10-12 weeks) or in a year-long program (three to four consecutive units). Some centers have other part-time options. The center of your choice can explain the options available at their location.

CPE at the St. Cloud Hospital

St. Cloud Hospital offers a fall unit from September through December, a spring unit from January through May and a summer unit from June through August. The fall and spring units are 24 hours a week for 16 weeks and the schedule is negotiated during orientation. The summer unit is 40 hours a week for 11 weeks and generally operates on a Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5pm schedule.

The St. Cloud Hospital is a Level II Trauma Center. CPE students have clinical experience to minister in a variety of settings: Oncology, Emergency Trauma Care, Family Birthing, Cardiac, Intensive Care, Mental Health and Palliative Care to name a few. All CPE units also include night shifts to develop the student’s crisis ministry skills and confidence. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and interviews are scheduled based on availability and qualifications of the applicant.

Where Can I Find More Information?

For more information about our program or for an application, you may contact the CPE Certified Educator at cpeinfo@centracare.com or 320-251-2700, ext. 54621.

For more information about CPE, visit https://acpe.edu/education/cpe-students/cpe-application

Nondiscrimination Policy

The St. Cloud Hospital/CentraCare CPE Center does not discriminate in admission or administration of its program or activities on the basis of age, gender, race, national origin, religion, creed, color, marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, ancestry, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by the federal , state of local law. In addition, the center provides reasonable accommodations for otherwise qualified disabled individuals.