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St. John’s has been an accredited center offering CPE since 1974 and is the only CPE center in Missouri currently accredited by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA).

Information regarding our accrediting agency can be found at www.usccbcca.org. Further accreditation is being sought via the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) www.acpe.edu.

As the name of CPE implies, the education received is:

¢ Clinical
The training has a strong “hands-on” component and those we serve are the living human documents that provide the primary means by which skills and awareness are developed. Unique to St. John’s is the variety of clinical possibilities and the number of certified chaplain staff who serve as clinical mentors.

¢ Pastoral
While academic theological preparation is typically completed prior to CPE, the entire context of the experience is pastoral and focused on putting an individual’s theology into practice. Some refer to CPE as “doing” theology versus “learning” theology.

¢ Education
Above all the CPE experience is meant to be educational. CPE is offered in units of 400 hours comprised of clinical, didactic and interactive sessions. Most national certifying bodies require a minimum of four accredited units prior to application for certification. Agencies certifying chaplains in the US include: The National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) www.nacc.org, The Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) www.professionalchaplains.org, The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) www.aapc.org and The National Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) www.najc.org.  Units experienced at St. John’s are recognized by all of these certifying bodies. 

Units of CPE are typically offered at St. John’s in 2 formats. The “Intense” model is conducted during the summer and covers the 400 hour curriculum  over a 10 week period. “Extended” units, conducted over a longer time frame in the Spring and the Fall, present the same 400 hour curriculum and allow a wider range of clinical options. An intense year-long, stipended residency program that begins each September is also now available. 

Specific information regarding program dates and availability can be accessed by clicking here. For more information please contact St. John's Director of Pastoral Education the Rev. Eddie Hennig, D.Min., at 417-820-2736 or ewhennig@sprg.mercy.net.

St. John’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program prepares ordained, professed and lay persons for chaplaincy and faith-based ministry. This mission is accomplished through experienced-based theological education in three key areas: pastoral formation, pastoral competence, and pastoral reflection.  We value the unique diversity of each intern/resident and prepare them to serve others in these three key areas.

Accredited by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
Commission on Certification and Accreditation

3211 South Lake Drive, Suite #317
St. Francis, WI 53235-3702
414.486.0139 : 414.489.0006 (fax)
E-mail: info@usccbcca.org