CPE: Participant Responses

"As a nurse with 30 years experience, CPE enhanced my skills and natural gifts and moved me from the "fix it" mindset to the pastoral skills of quiet listening, reflection, sharing prayer and being a caring presence." Kitty Burtner, Clinical Supervisor, In-Home Hospice

"CPE helped me take a much more heart-oriented approach to ministry." David Owen Unitarian Universalist Seminarian

"Through supervision, I was able to learn the process of spiritual reflection both in my personal life and my ministry. I was also able to become less compartmentalized and have a more inclusive pastoral focus." Chaplin Cathy Rhoades, BCC.

"CPE helped me determine my calling." Summer Participant

"This training has increased my self-awareness. I am more aware of my “shadow” qualities." Summer Participant

"CPE helped me find moments of transformation in the midst of crisis." Summer Participant

"CPE helped me to examine my faith." Summer Participant

I didn’t feel I was assigned a clinical site as much as I had joined a community.” Margaret Anne Ley, Summer Participant

“Collegiality as a group is apparent and the staff chaplains worked with us as a team, as a part of their professional community.” Extended Participant

“Doing CPE here at this center is definitely a team experience. I hadn’t expected that but it was a big bonus for my learning experience.” Alejandro Trejo, Summer Participant,

Read thoughts from Art Rasch, Hospice Chaplain about Clinical Pastoral Education and Prayer

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Exit interviews with students invariably include an emphasis on personal growth and transformation in their pastoral identities.

“As I think back on my summer unit of CPE I can say that it ranks eminent among my most rewarding experiences.” Margaret Anne Ley, Summer Participant

“Grace and challenges are mixed together just right.” Extended Participant

“The broader base of theological understanding presented in CPE has reduced my internal judgment and deepened my ability to offer spiritual care to a broader population.” Rev. Ron Baird, Extended Participant

“The program assisted us in sharing together from our own spiritualities and helped me understand other paths of spiritual transformation.” Extended Participant,

“This unit opened more doors (for personal growth) than I ever thought possible.” Summer Participant