Click on the headline to read the expanded article. Send your thoughts to [email protected] .
October 1, 2018
The Power and Privilege of Voting
Amy Greene
Amy Greene,
Board Chair
Do you remember the first time you ever voted in a US presidential election? Do you remember the mood swings - your own and the country's - at each election since? As frustrating and exhausting (and occasionally exciting) as elections can be, they still are a fundamental part of a participatory organization - whether a country or an association. And I still believe that voting - from the micro to the macro level - is a duty and not just a right. When people complain about politics, whether national or local, the first thing I ask is "Did you vote?" If not, I really don't want to hear any opinions about the topic at hand. Voting can't solve everything, but it is a tangible way to make your voice count - even if you don't always "win."

Read more
Reflective Practice: Formation and Supervision in Ministry
Formation, Supervision and Gender Diversity

In the last few decades there has been a significant change in how gender and human sexuality is understood. Correspondingly there has been an expression of greater gender diversity among the general population. So it is then, more seminarians and other students preparing for religious leadership, do not identify with or transcend conventional gender norms.

Read more
Who? What? When? Images from ACPE's Past

Do you recognize these folks or the event in the photo above? Send us a note at  [email protected] .
Thank you for your responses to last week's photo! Your answers helped us identify the following people (from far left to right) Jack Gleason, Patricia Barrett, Arne Jessen, and Serge Castigliano. 
In Case You Missed It
Awards Nominations Deadline Extended to October 4th 
Effective January 1, 2018 the ACPE Foundation Service Awards Committee will receive award nominations, review award nominations, and make a recommendation to the ACPE Foundation Board for awardee selection. This slate of awardees will be shared with the ACPE Board of Directors.

The first task of the new Service Awards Committee was to review the current awards and recognition, procedures, and policies. Below are the revamped criteria and processes including a new award - the ACPE Inspiration Award!
ACPE & AAPC Explore a Common Future
Amy Greene
Amy Greene, 
Board Chair
On August 28, 2018, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) Board of Directors voted unanimously to send ACPE a Letter of Intent (LOI) indicating that AAPC would like to become a part of ACPE. Earlier today, Tere Tyner Canzoneri, AAPC President, wrote her membership to inform them of our discussions. You can read her letter here.

The ACPE Board of Directors will meet via videoconference in the next couple of weeks to carefully review the LOI and decide if the agreement meets with our mission and strategic plan. 

Read more
New Core Curriculum Video Available
Have you seen all the videos developed by the Certification Implementation Team on Core Curriculum?

They recently published a video entitled "ACPE History" presented by Kitty Garlid, Bill Scrivner, and Christopher Brown.  Check out the video here and download the bibliography here.

Additionally, you can find all the videos on the ACPE website here or on ACPE's YouTube channel.
Transitioning from the Old Certification Process
Mary Stewart Hall
Commission Chair
Now that we are well into the New Certification Process, we have recognized that it is not only possible, but maybe even preferable, for candidates who are in the Old Process to transition to the New Process.  While the Certification Commission previously stated that those who achieved candidacy had the choice of transitioning to the New Process, the pathway wasn't as clear as it is now, so we are once again presenting candidates with an opportunity to transition to the New Process.

Read more
Theory Integration Presentation Mentors
Over the past few months, we held our first two training cohorts and now have 25 trained Theory Integration Presentation Mentors. As we know our numbers of CECs will continue to grow, we have scheduled our next four cohort groups so that we can train a sufficient number of mentors. If you are interested in becoming a Theory Integration Presentation Mentor, please click here to complete the sign up and indicate which training cohort will work best in your schedule. If you have questions about the mentor's role, please email Robin Booth or Anastasia Holman.
Spiritual Care Week 2018
Weekly Highlights
This Week's Reflection
Some of you may have seen this poem as it has been widely circulated on Facebook. It seems like a helpful teaching tool with CPE students:
"When You Meet Someone in Deep Grief" by Patricia McKernon Runkle

Slip off you needs
and set them by the door.

Enter barefoot
this darkened chapel

hollowed by loss
hallowed by sorrow

its gray stone walls
and floor.

You, congregation
of one

are here to listen
not to sing.

Kneel in the back pew.
Make no sound,

let the candles
speak.
YouTube
We live in an age where we are engaging many of the questions of marginalization in new and important ways. Here's one teacher's effort to give his students a way to think about ageism. Take a look: 



Monday, October 1
* Simchat Torah - Judaism
This festival, also known as "Rejoicing with the Law," marks the end of Sukkot and the completion of the Torah reading cycle with the beginning of reading the first book again. Jews celebrate this day by singing, dancing, and marching around the synagogue or temple with Torah scrolls. This festival begins at sundown.

Tuesday, October 2
* Jashan-e Mehregan - Zoroastrianism
A celebratory festival of friendship, righteousness and justice.

Thursday, October 4
* Feast Day of Saint Francis of Assisi - Christianity
A celebration of the patron saint of animals and ecology and the founder of the Franciscan Roman Catholic religious order, known for its ethic of simplicity and service. Many Christians mark this festival by bringing their animal companions to churches for a blessing.

Friday, October 5
* Bodhidharma Memorial - Buddhism
This day celebrates the monk (5th - 6th centuries C.E.) who emigrated from India and is credited with transmitting Ch'an [Zen] Buddhism to China.

Saturday, October 6
* Worldwide General Conference begins - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
This is the largest worship service for Latter-day Saints (also known as Mormons) and lasts for two days. Conference proceedings are broadcast live over the Internet and through other electronic media.

Sunday, October 7
* World Communion Sunday - Christianity
Visit the ACPE website for more information. 
  • Edith Finsaadal's mother, Therese, 91, died peacefully September 21, 2018 with Edith's sister and brother at her side. Therese's great granddaughter, named after her, spent about an hour with her after she died. Read more.
  • Reverend Robert David Leas, of East Tawas, entered the higher life on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at Tawas St. Joseph Hospital in Tawas City, age 84.
  • CORRECTION: Last week we reported on Cary Melvin, ACPE Certified Educator from Cape Fear Valley Health System in Fayetteville, NC. In the article we mistakenly identified Steve Goss as Steve Ivy. 
Visit the ACPE Memorials and Milestones page for more details. Please email [email protected] to add someone to our thoughts.
This Week's Career Opportunities & Residency/CEC Openings
  • Career Opportunities 
  • Director-Chaplain Services, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
  • Chaplain, Mayo Clinic, Barron, WI
Visit the ACPE website for a complete list of Career Opportunities and Residency/CEC Openings.

Want to advertise with ACPE? Learn more.
Other Happenings This Week
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education
(404) 320-1472 | Email | Website 

ACPE is the premier, DOE-recognized organization that provides the highest quality CPE programs for spiritual care professionals of any faith and in any setting. We do this through a rigorous accreditation and certification process for centers and educators that provide CPE. The depth of our training enables students to realize their full potential to strengthen the spiritual health of people in their care as well as themselves. 
STAY CONNECTED: