A couple weeks ago I had the chance to spend a few days at the beach with my family. It was a welcome break, and I remembered how important it can be to step away from the regular, daily demands of work and home, and make space for rest and creativity.
One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to Mepkin Abbey. Located in Moncks Corner, South Carolina, the abbey is home to Trappist monks. Located along the banks of the Cooper River, the Abbey’s setting is stunningly beautiful, and historically complicated. The monks are intentional about honoring all the spirits that have called the place home: indigenous people, enslaved Black people, wealthy industrialists, and those who have given their lives to a life of simplicity and prayer.
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In March, the Boards of Directors of ACPE and APC met concurrently and approved a proposal to merge. Each association’s membership will now vote on the proposed merger in July. To help ACPE members make an informed decision, ACPE is hosting town halls, Q&A sessions, interviews, and SharePoint conversations.
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We invite all ACPE Certified Educators who are working with Educator Candidates to join us for informal consultations and conversations via Zoom in 2021.
The drop-in meeting (no RSVP required) will take place on Mondays, beginning from 12:00pm to 1:00pm Eastern time.
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The summer is upon us, which for many of us means the beginning of summer CPE units. Some will end this unit in celebration of a year well done. Others will welcome new students beginning a single unit in their summer break from theology school.
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Having come to the end of our historic annual conference, I am reflecting on the talent among us, how that is nurtured and encouraged. What a gift to hear the voices of newer educators and particularly those who are pushing and leading us to make anti-racist commitments in our lives and ministries.
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It seems like yesterday that members of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors were beginning a process of discerning whether or not to consolidate with The Association of Clinical Pastoral Educators.
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Once a month the ACPE Professional Ethics Commission (PEC) posts a couple of statements from our Code of Professional Ethics for ACPE Members.
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Deadline to Declare: August 26
Deadline to Upload Materials: October 1
Meeting Dates: November 1-5
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The Leadership Development Committee is now officially receiving applications to serve on the initial board of the new organization, IF the members approve the proposed merger between ACPE and APC by a super majority in the July referendum.
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It has been a few weeks since ACPE gathered for our annual meeting. We concluded with a call to action, an invitation for the different entities that do the work of ACPE to explore how our shared learning and awakenings can be integrated into our common work. And yet as the days warm and lengthen, we are reminded of the tiredness, the weariness that can come with this work. Marianne Moore, writing in 1941, writes of the resource that our emotions can be, even in the face of great challenge: |
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What Are Years
by Marianne Moore
What is our innocence,
what is our guilt? All are
naked, none is safe. And whence
is courage: the unanswered question, the resolute doubt, —
dumbly calling, deafly listening—that
in misfortune, even death,
encourage others
and in its defeat, stirs
the soul to be strong? He
sees deep and is glad, who
accedes to mortality
and in his imprisonment rises
upon himself as
the sea in a chasm, struggling to be free and unable to be,
in its surrendering
finds its continuing.
So he who strongly feels,
behaves. The very bird,
grown taller as he sings, steels
his form straight up. Though he is captive, his mighty singing
says, satisfaction is a lowly
thing, how pure a thing is joy.
This is mortality,
this is eternity.
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Conventional wisdom holds that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. There’s some science that also supports this notion, but one of the difficulties in assessing its veracity is the variety of foods people across the world consider breakfast. Is it breakfast or what we eat that makes the difference? Here’s a great piece from the NY Times describing the things kids around the world eat for breakfast:
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Shawn Moore Israel is a chaplain who serves with The International Fellowship of Chaplains, Kairos Prison Ministry, Indy Vineyard Missional Food Pantry&Racial Reconciliation Ministry, and Ascent 121. She wrote a poem entitled, "Centering Peace Education (CPE)."
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This Week on the Calendar |
June 14
Guru Arjan Dev Martyrdom (Sikhism)
This day commemorates Guru Arjan Dev, the first Sikh martyr. Until the early 1600s, Sikhs had a peaceful history, but the new Mughal Emperor, Jahangir, was a Muslim who had Guru Arjan Dev arrested and tortured. A few days later, when taken to bathe in the Ravi River, Guru Arjan Dev disappeared.
June 15
Saint Vladimir's Day (Christianity)
Saint Vladimir, celebrated on this day in Orthodox and Catholic traditions, was born an illegitimate prince, who defeated his stepbrothers to become the sole leader of Russia in 980 AD. Known for his barbarism and immorality in his younger years, Vladimir later became interested in the Christian faith and converted himself and the people of Russia.
June 19
New Church Day (Swedenborgian Christianity)
The 18th century theologian and scientist Emanuel Swedenborg founded the New Church after a course of divinely inspired revelations. He wrote 35 volumes, which he called The True Christian Religion, to reveal hidden meaning in the Bible and address the mysteries of human life. This day celebrates the book's publication in 1770.
Enlightenment of Kwan Yin Bodhisattva (Buddhism)
The enlightenment of Kwan Yin, who consequently became a Bodhisattva—one who has vowed to attain final, supreme enlightenment and save suffering beings.
Pentecost begins at sundown (Orthodox Christianity)
Celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles following the Ascension of Jesus. On Pentecost, Christians celebrate the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the apostles of Jesus. The word itself comes from the Greek word for "fiftieth," since the feast day takes place the 50th day after Easter.
Saturday of Souls 4 (Greek Orthodoxy)
Saturday of Souls is a day set aside for the commemoration of the dead. Saturday is a traditional day of prayer for the dead, because Christ lay dead in the Tomb on Saturday. This day is devoted to prayer for departed relatives and others among the faithful who would not be commemorated specifically as saints.
June 20
Summer Feast (American Indian)
A day to honor the coming and going of the seasons, includes prayer, song and storytelling.
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This Week in our Thoughts
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CaroMont Health, in Gastonia, NC, is a nationally recognized leader and trusted partner in creating a healthy community.
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Join our dynamic CPE program nestled in the majestic bluffs along the Mississippi River.
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Educational Opportunities |
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ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education |
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ACPE is the standard for spiritual care and education. Our diverse membership includes Certified CPE Educators, Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapists, Spiritual Care Professionals and Practitioners, Pastoral Counselors, Chaplains, Faith Communities, and Seminaries. Our multi-disciplinary, multi-faith, multi-racial community of professionals provides education, connection, and formation through continuing education, networking, and leadership development.
ACPE is the premier, Department of Education recognized, organization that provides the highest quality CPE programs for spiritual care professionals of any faith and in any setting. We do this through a rigorous accreditation and certification process for centers and educators that provide CPE.
The depth of our training enables students to realize their full potential to strengthen the spiritual health of people in their care as well as themselves.
ACPE members are actively engaged in a wide variety of professional development activities including communities of practice, conferences, spiritual care research, and informal networking. We are more than just an association: we are a movement committed to the transformation of the human suffering.Our opportunities for formation and community enrich our member's work of healing and transforming people and communities in the US and across the globe.
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