Clinical Pastoral Education
 Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an education experience
available to all students by applying to and being accepted by an
accredited CPE program. CPE or an equivalent is an ordination
requirement for students seeking to be ordained in the ELCA.
ELCA Standards for CPE
The programmatic standards for an approved Supervised
Clinical Ministry program include, but are not limited to, the
following:
- A specified period of not less than 400 hours, including
supervised clinical practice in ministry, structured group, and
individual study and reflection.
- Active reporting and evaluation of one's practice of ministry,
utilizing a small peer group and individual supervision.
- Supervision by an individual who is appropriately trained,
qualified and credentialed by Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education, Inc.
- An inductive, experiential mode of learning that uses the
clinical/case method and focuses on one's whole person in the
practice of ministry.
- Growth in learning the art of pastoral and spiritual care
through conceptual models from theology, ethics, and the
behavioral sciences.
- A context of interpersonal ministry which includes potential
for involvement in pastoral care, social justice ministry, worship
and music, preaching, program management, teaching, etc.
Get an early start
Students do well to begin planning for participation in a CPE
program - or equivalent - early in their theological education
program. For students seeking ordination, CPE should be completed
prior to endorsement. To obtain list of approved centers and
application forms, visit the
Association for Clinical Pastoral
Education web site, and their brochure page in
particular:
www.acpe.edu/brochure.htm.
When application forms are completed they should be sent directly
to the Centers to which a student wishes to apply. Applications may
be sent to more than one Center at a time. For more
information on the application process and reporting, please see the
CPE Brochure page.
For a current ACPE Directory click here:
www.acpe.edu/directories.htm.
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