Clinical pastoral education

Theory

An underpinning theory of education that structures clinical pastoral education is the "Action-Reflection" mode of learning. Students typically compose "verbatims" of their pastoral care encounters in which they are invited to reflect upon what occurred and draw insight from these reflections that can be implemented in future pastoral care events.

History

Although the practice of spiritual care has a long tradition in Christianity and to some extent in other faith traditions, the systematic analysis of practice associated with clinical pastoral education had its beginnings in the early 20th century. In 1925, Richard Cabot, a physician and adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Divinity School, published an article in Survey Graphic suggesting that every candidate for ministry receive clinical training for pastoral work similar to the clinical training offered to medical students. In the 1930s, the Reverend Anton Boisen placed theological students at the Chicago Theological Seminary in supervised contact with patients in mental hospitals, a flagship program that later resulted in the forming of the ACPE.

Accrediting bodies

In the United States there are currently two organizations who are recognized by the United States Department of Education. ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education (formerly known as The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education) was recognized as an accrediting agency for clinical pastoral education programs by the U.S. Department of Education. ACPE educators offer clinical pastoral education at more than 450 locations across the United States, many of which combine onsite and online learning opportunities. In 2024, ACPE chose to withdraw from the renewal process for Department of Education recognition. Clinical Pastoral Education International was accredited in August 2024 by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission, which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. There are over two hundred and seventy accredited seminary graduate programs with the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada (ATS) in which some provide specializations in clinical pastoral education. As of 2025, three clinical pastoral education bodies are affiliates of the Association of Theological Schools in the United States and Canada; they are the ACPE, the College of Psychotherapy and Pastoral Supervision, and the World Spiritual Health Organization.

References

References

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7. Cobb, Puchalski and Rumbold (eds.), ''Oxford Textbook of Spirituality in Healthcare'', 2012, p. 294.
8. Stokoe, Rodney J.R.. (2005). "Clinical Pastoral Education". CASC/ACSS The Canadian Association for Spiritual Care.
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13. "Home - Clinical Pastoral Education International".
14. "DAPIP".
15. "The Association of Theological Schools".
16. "Affiliates".