About CPE
Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is theological and professional education for ministry. CPE was conceived by Dr. Richard Cabot as a method of learning pastoral practice in a clinical setting under supervision. The Rev. Anton Boisen enlarged the concept to include a case study method of theological inquiry - a study of the "living human document." Today many supervisors emphasize the importance of pastoral relationships being formed through an integration of personal history, behavioral theory and method, and spiritual development.
In CPE, theological students, ordained clergy, members of religious orders and qualified laypeople minister to people in crisis situations while being supervised. Out of intense involvement with the supervisor, other students, people in crisis, and other professionals, CPE students are challenged to improve the quality of their pastoral relationships. Through pastoral practice, written case studies and verbatim, individual supervision, seminar participation, and relevant reading, students are encouraged to develop genuine caring relationships. Through viewing complicated life situations from different view-points, chaplain interns are able to gain new insights and understanding about the human situation. Theological reflection is important in CPE as chaplain interns seek ways to integrate theology with life experience.
Essential elements in CPE include an accredited CPE center ready to receive students, certified CPE supervisor(s) to provide pastoral supervision, a small group of peers engaged in a common learning experience, providing pastoral care to people in crisis, detailed reporting of pastoral practice, a specific time period, and an individual learning contract.
About the VA Puget Sound CPE
This center offers full-time units year round in the fall, winter, spring and summer. Three year-long residencies are also offered every year. The chaplain interns and residents function as ministers throughout the hospital system providing spiritual care within treatment teams, while working alongside physicians, nurses, social workers and other professionals.
Each Chaplain is assigned two medical units that require her to function in a way that addresses the spiritual and emotional issues of patients and families. Verbatim Conferences and Interpersonal Relationship Groups are held within the context of this program, in order to address the learning that is a part of the ministry. In addition, individual supervisory sessions with a mutually agreed upon learning contract are integral to this program. Some focused reading and approximately six verbatim accounts and a final self-evaluation make up the written requirements. A once a week chapel service led by the interns and residents, provides a place to worship together as a group.
The CPE Coordinator, Joe McMahan has a degree in Philosophy/Religion from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho and a Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. He was ordained in the Church of the Nazarene in 1985. He was the pastor of two congregations from 1984 to 1993. He completed his residency for hospital ministry in 1995 at St. Mark’s in Salt Lake City, UT. From 1996 to 2009, Joe was the Director of Pastoral Care for Asante Health System located in Medford, Oregon. He is board certified with the Association for Professional Chaplains. In April of 2010 he was certified as an Associate Supervisor in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). Joe is active in local, regional ACPE activities.
Accredited to offer Level I and Level II CPE by:
Association For Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
1549 Clairmont Road, Suite 103
Decatur, Georgia 30033
(404) 320-1472
email: acpe@acpe.edu
Contact Us
Contact Chaplain Joe McMahan at Joseph.Mcmahan@va.gov or 206-768-5210.
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