What is CPE?
Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith, professional education for ministry. It brings theological students, qualified laypersons, and ministers of all faiths into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and teachers, CPE participants develop new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. From theological reflection on specific human situations, they gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and inter-professional relationships." - The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
Since 1965
The CPE program began at Immanuel Medical Center in 1965 and remains today an important component of the faith-based ministry of Alegent Health. The program is highly regarded and appreciated by the many healthcare professionals across the region that experience the dedicated pastoral service provided by the program’s graduates. The program contributes to the Alegent Health pledge to "be creative, visionary leaders committed to holistic healthcare in the region."
Preparation for Ministry
Preparation of Pastoral care leaders is part of Alegent Health’s ongoing ministry. Participants enrolled in the program contribute to the persons they serve by their pastoral care in hospitals, clinics, long-term care facilities and other services within Alegent Health.
Preparation for Leadership
In addition, CPE participants’ work in the local community supports and furthers Alegent Health’s commitment to improving the health of the communities in which they serve. Preparation of CPE Supervisors contributes to the future development of Clinical Pastoral Education.
Supporting Our Mission
Clinical Pastoral Education supports Alegent Health’s mission, “faithful to the healing ministry of Jesus Christ, . . .to provide high quality care for the body, mind and spirit of every person.”
Alegent Health provides administrative and financial support for the CPE program out of the belief that the persons enrolled in CPE will take with them a commitment to care for the whole person, including the spiritual and pastoral dimensions.
Preparing Participants for Their Unique Missions
Recent program celebrations
Alumni Testimonials about CPEHere are the voices of experts, people who have taken at least one unit of CPE in the program at Alegent Health:
“I now see myself as having a strong, compassionate and confident pastoral authority among colleagues as well as with clients and family members. It seems I am better able to ‘think on my feet’.”
“CPE has given me an ability to be aware of me, to help me consciously choose how to respond to what is going on. I feel that I am living more awake, especially when I see people reacting and having no clue what is going on inside of them.”
“CPE was an amazing experience. I think it should be required of anyone considering ministry.”
“I use my CPE training almost daily.”
“CPE helped me to become focused in my ministry. CPE helped me realize that my personal growth (emotionally, physically, and spiritually) is also important.”
Main Outcomes of CPEOur CPE alumni, out of the program one, three, and five years, identify the following as most important for them (11 of 20 items are listed here in rank order for the three groups surveyed)
| |
Rank order 5-years out |
Rank order 3-years out |
Rank order
1-year out |
| Component in developing pastoral identity |
1 |
3 |
3 |
| Preparation for hospital/institution visitation in ministry |
2 |
1 |
2 |
| Impacted personal spiritual journey |
3 |
4 |
6 |
| Better understanding of ethical issues in health care |
3 |
15 |
5 |
| Helpful in appreciating value of peer group learning |
5 |
11 |
13 |
| Enhanced ability to reflect theologically about death, loss |
6 |
2 |
8 |
| Appreciate value of ongoing consultation/ supervision in ministry |
9 |
12 |
4 |
| Helpful in developing basic listening/counseling skills |
10 |
10 |
1 |
| Process to identify personal strengths |
14 |
8 |
14 |
| Process to identify personal limitations |
15 |
14 |
15 |
| Important step in pursuing career goals |
17 |
5 |
10 |
What do persons who send participants to CPE say?
In our last survey, field education supervisors and others involved in the formation of priests, pastors and other church workers identified the following as the most important outcomes of CPE:
| |
Rank order |
| Ability to identify personal limitations |
1 |
| Ability to identify personal strengths |
2 |
| Development of basic listening and counseling skills |
2 |
| Development of hospital/institutional visitation skills |
2 |
| Development of Pastoral identity |
5 |
| Development of crisis intervention skills |
5 |
Would you recommend CPE to a potential ministry candidate? Overwhelmingly, alumni answer
yes: 87.5% of those five years out; 94.1% of those three years out; and 92.7% of those one year out of CPE.
Alegent Health’s CPE Program has received its ten-year continuing accreditation through 2017, with no notations. The action follows upon a successful site visit and action by the national
Accreditation Commission of the ACPE (Association for Clinical Pastoral Education). Alegent’s CPE program is one of two accredited programs in Nebraska and 350 centers in the United States
