Chaplaincy is the fastest-growing ministry in the United States. There are several reasons for this, including diverse settings, a broad ministry, and a variety of people served. As the ministry grows, so does the research on chaplaincy. The last several years have seen a surge in research on chaplaincy. There has also been greater attention paid to how chaplains are trained. The training still requires a theology degree, most often the Master of Divinity degree. More importantly, the training includes Clinical Pastoral Education.
Clinical Pastoral Education is an experiential learning opportunity based on the action-reflection training model. Typically, the requirement is four units, or 1600 hours, of training. CPE is now offered in virtually every state of the United States. However, Puerto Rico does not have an accredited CPE Program. As the island continues to grow, the need for Clinical Pastoral Education grows.
The next step in this project is to organize and conduct an introductory planning meeting. This project will be known as CPE in Paradise going forward. This meeting formally introduces the project to the stakeholders in Puerto Rico.
The introductory planning meeting will address topics such as;
- Learn about Clinical Pastoral Education and current accreditation
- Discuss the growing need for professionally trained chaplains in Puerto
- Explore opportunities for collaboration among hospitals, hospices, universities, seminaries, and faith communities.
- Identify potential clinical training
- Discuss governance and partnership
- Establish a Steering Committee to continue
It will be a full-day event.
