Interfaith Professional Education for Ministry
Clinical Pastoral Education brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams and others) into supervised encounters with people in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback from peers and educators, students develop a new awareness of themselves as persons and of the needs of those to whom they minister. CPE serves as a part of one's preparation for parish ministry, chaplaincy, lay ministry, teaching and counseling. Some seminaries or denominations require CPE, others take CPE to be better in their chosen field. CPE is required to become a board-certified chaplain.
CPE Placements
As an ACPE accredited Center, Methodist offers Level I and Level II CPE, as well as Supervisory CPE, in sequence. The outcomes for each level must be completed before moving to the next level. CPE is offered in “units.” A unit of CPE has a minimum of 400 hours of which at least 100 are educational, with the balance being clinical practice.
Methodist offers year-long residencies of three/four units beginning in September of each year. When possible, individual units are offered in the spring, summer and fall. The year-long residency is paid, full-time work and includes some weekend time. The Spring and Fall units are ‘extended units,’ allowing you to have the educational portion one day a week and fit the clinical hours in around the rest of your weekly schedule. Extended units allow you to continue working at another job while engaging in the CPE program. The part-time nature of an extended unit requires approximately 17-18 weeks to complete. The Summer unit is full-time for ten weeks. Summer and extended units also require weekend work.
Application
To apply for the Methodist CPE program, complete the ACPE application and submit the completed application to alin.martinez@mlh.org. Applications must be submitted by email, and only standard ACPE applications will be accepted.
Applications are accepted at any time, and you will be told of the next available unit at the time when you apply. The entire application process, including interviews, is usually complete several months before a unit begins, but due to cancellations or other unforeseen circumstances, you may be able to get into a unit closer to the start of that unit.
Admissions
The CPE program is a competitive program and not all applicants will be selected for an interview or be admitted. A strong application will include a fully completed application, well-written essays and a demonstrated ability to be self-reflective. Any incomplete applications will not be considered.
Tuition, Fees and Stipend
- Application Fee: None
- Unit Registration Fee: None
- Stipend (Year-long Residency Only): $35,568.00; health, dental and vision insurance is also a benefit for those enrolled in the CPE residency.
- Tuition: Applicable only to students not serving in Methodist clinical placements. Depending on specifics, tuition ranges from $500 - $1000.
Helpful Links
Contact Us
For more information, contact Rev. Rhonda Gilligan Gillespie.
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education
We Work, Floor 4
120 West Trinity Place
Decatur GA 30030
(404) 320-1472