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. Certified Educators, Educator Candidates, and staff members will welcome new faces with high expectations. For some of us, this represents a refreshing return to a summer routine interrupted last year by COVID-19. In my shop (my primary experience is in a healthcare environment), the summer means a bit of shuffling to accommodate the summer group into the physical space, revisiting classroom scheduling, and lots of orientation before sharing of clinical responsibilities. Oh, and on-call. Within a couple of weeks, the new folk will be welcome care providers for our patients, their families, and the staff who attend them. |
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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. I am also reflecting on the way that CoPs both already are and can become instruments to nurture new leaders and operationalize our anti-racist commitments. |
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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. Deciding to merge with an organization of professionals from a related but different discipline was challenging, and we weighed the possible advantages of coming together. I had the privilege of participating in a summit of AAPC members who considered our needs as an organization, and what it might be like to join with another association. |
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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. Each posting is accompanied by a brief personal reflection from a member of the PEC discussing some ways this person lives these commitments.*
Betty White, ACPE Certified Educator from Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, comments: For June, instead of commenting on specifics about our ethics standards, I would like to share some resources for learning about professional ethics as well as, create a space where we might give attention to a question I have been grappling with, “Why, racism is ethically/morally wrong?”
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Deadline to Declare: August 26
Deadline to Upload Materials: October 1
Meeting Dates: November 1-5
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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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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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The Accreditation and Certification Commissions are excited to share two innovative opportunities for the continued development of CEC programs in our centers!
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The ACPE SIP Program offers trainings to help mental health practitioners work more competently with spirituality in the context of psychotherapy. The 30-hour NBCC-approved continuing education curriculum is a specialty training for persons who have previous training in psychotherapy.
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With a request for forgiveness from all of the cat people out there, there is something about the spirit of a happy dog. What would it be like for CPE students as they begin their summer units to allow such a spirit to inhabit their experience, to inform the way they approach each day, “hurling themselves into the sweet stinging surf"? Katherine Williams offers a lovely reflection about this joie de vivre: |
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The Dog Body of My Soul
by Katherine Williams
Some days I feel
like a retriever
racing
back and forth
fetching the tired
old balls
the universe
tosses me.
Some days
I’m on a leash
following
someone else’s
route,
sensing
I’m supposed
to be grateful.
Some days
I’m waiting
in a darkened
house
bladder insistent
not knowing
when my people
will return.
But some days
I hurl myself
into the sweet
stinging surf,
race wildly back
and roll
in the sand’s
warm welcome.
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For those who need a visual, here’s a great video of 500 dogs at a beach in Perth, Australia. (Go Aussies - gotta love a beach dedicated to dogs!)
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Fr. Dennis Cotton is a chaplain serving at Kindred Hospice Care in Corpus Christi, TX. He wrote a reflection titled, "A Journey to Myself."
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This Week on the Calendar |
June 9
Saint Columba of Iona (Celtic Christianity)
This day commemorates Saint Columba (521-597 AD), one of the twelve apostles of Ireland. He led evangelizing missions in Ireland and Scotland, and was credited, with the Celtic Church, for bringing a revival of Christianity to Western Europe after the fall of the Roman Empire.
Ascension begins at sundown (Orthodox Christianity)
Celebrates the ascent of Jesus Christ into heaven
June 11
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Catholic Christianity)
This feast day commemorates Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque's (1647-1690) visions of Jesus and his instruction to her that she serve as the instrument for spreading devotion to his sacred heart. The feast celebrates Jesus's gift of the Eucharist and urges believers to pray for the sins of the world.
June 13
Blessing of the Animals (Christianity)
Saint Anthony, the Patron Saint of the Animal Kingdom, is recognized on this day. Similar to St. Francis of Assisi's feast day, animals are welcome and blessed at many church services.
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.
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This Week in our Thoughts
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Priest Opportunity at Froedtert in Milwaukee, WI
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Doctor of Ministry Professional Education and Leadership Concentrate
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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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