Clinical Pastoral Education
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) was conceived more than 80 years ago as a method of learning pastoral practice in a clinical setting under the supervision of a seasoned clinical chaplain. Anton Boison, the father of CPE, integrated the case-study method of theological inquiry into this professional training process. Boison termed this unique learning opportunity the study of “living human documents.”
Since the 1920s CPE has developed and enhanced its methodology by close interaction with experts in the fields of medicine, nursing, psychology, the behavioral sciences, as well as theology. Persons now enroll in CPE courses as part of their theological education, for continuing education in ministry, for training in pastoral counseling, or for training leading to board certification in clinical chaplaincy. Theological schools may give academic credit for work successfully completed in a CPE program, and students from regional theological seminaries, including Princeton Theological Seminary, New Brunswick Theological Seminary, Drew Theological School, and Palmer Theological Seminary have accomplished their pastoral training work at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton (RWJUH Hamilton).
An affiliate of Clinical Pastoral Education International
Our program is an affiliate of Clinical Pastoral Education International (CPEI) and is accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), which is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
For more information about CPEI please visit www.cpei.edu.
The CPE Experience at RWJUH Hamilton
Along with attention to the development and refinement of pastoral skills and identity through an action-reflection adult learning model, intern chaplains will be immersed in exploring issues related to end-of-life care, palliative care, bio-ethics, medical crises, and other health-care related topics within the context of an academically affiliated community hospital.
A CPE course involves a minimum of 300 hours of clinical chaplaincy experience and 100 hours of seminar learning. The RWJUH Hamilton CPE center offers two training programs annually: a summer intensive 12-week course runs from early June through mid-August; an academic-year 16-week course begins in early January and is completed at the end of April. Seminar sessions for both programs are held primarily on-line once or twice weekly.
Most students will serve as intern chaplains in hospitals in the RWJBarnabas Health system (currently including RWJUH Hamilton, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center, Jersey City Medical Center, and Trinitas Regional Medical Center). Students may also find their own chaplaincy internship setting on a case-by-case basis.
Chaplain intern applicants must be spiritually and emotionally mature, and show an ability and desire to work within an interfaith / interdisciplinary team. Chaplain interns serving at RWJBarnabas Health locations are processed as volunteers, thus completion of volunteer orientation and medical screenings are required.
Program Leadership
The CPE program is directed by Chaplain Ted Taylor, serving as a CPE supervisor / educator since 2010. His religious background as a Quaker, as well as his extensive experience in bioethics and palliative care, offer chaplain interns in the program a unique learning opportunity.
To receive more information about the CPE program at RWJBarnabas Health, please contact Chaplain Taylor at 609.631.6980 or tedford.taylor@rwjbh.org.
