I've had several folk ask me, "what's it like being the Chair of the Board of ACPE?" Most recently my reply was, "It's been a busy 60 days!" And, looking ahead, it's likely to remain so.

 

I attended a conference on working with effective boards in January, and the Racial Ethnic Multicultural (REM) invitational in early February. I had the pleasure of hosting a face-to-face meeting with the Partners for Professional Excellence in Spiritual Care (or Strategic Partners), at my hospital February 20. The board met via Zoom three times. I met with LaPiana, the consulting firm facilitating the discussions with our Strategic Partners, twice (once in-person and once via Zoom).

As interest in population health and community wellness grows among healthcare organizations, it is both intriguing and fitting to think about the possibilities for integrating spiritual care at this different level. Exalta Health, a non-profit clinic serving uninsured and underserved people in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has been providing spiritual care for its primary care medical and dental patients for a number of years. Through this webinar, Staff Chaplain Kristen Meyer, and President Emeritus Bill Paxton, will share the unique opportunities and challenges they've encountered as they've integrated spiritual care at Exalta Health.

We hope this time finds you well. As the ACPE Board of Directors, we have been aware of members' thoughts and concerns about various transitions within the organization. We hear you. And we can empathize with your thoughts and concerns. You elected each member of the board, and we want you to know that we honor your voice. We feel your passion and commitment. ACPE continues to thrive because of your dedication and loyalty. We sincerely thank you for your reflection and input during this season.

The recent transitions within ACPE have been difficult and taxing for us, as well. We have had to make some tough decisions after deep reflection, discernment, and prayer. We have also realized the growing pains for us as a board in relation to the membership and are aware of the need to maintain communication about activities within ACPE.

For the last few years, I brought CPE groups into a maximum-security state prison, Minnesota Correctional Facility - Lino Lakes, to learn Restorative Justice Practices. The CPE peers would drive to this prison on six Fridays in the early morning hours to enter at 7:30 AM to learn from incarcerated leaders. They learned not only about crime and punishment, but also about harm and repair. The incarcerated leaders would teach us, and then we would go out to practice restorative justice principles in our ministries and in our families. The next week we explore the shifts as they occurred within us and our relationships. We loved these units. In the fall of 2018, a dream came true. The Foundation for ACPE and an individual donor together gave us funding to offer a unit inside the prison. I recruited four pastors who had completed CPE units with me before, and then we interviewed the leaders of the Lino Lakes Restorative Justice program. We chose four of the incarcerated leaders to join us in the unit of CPE for the full 400 hours.

• The SIP Interest List has grown to 375 names.
• Over 30 people attended Friday's online informational meeting about being a SIP Trainer.
• Another 25 registered for the online informational meeting but were unable to attend.
• And we've already received 12 SIP Trainer applications.

For more information about iPEX, the InterProfessional Education eXchange: A National Program to Advance Interprofessional Education in Cancer Care, visit this website:  http://iPEXproject.org/   or contact iPEX@louisville.edu.

The Certification Commission is excited about the great work that is happening in our ACPE centers as CECs enter the process and are preparing for certification. We have learned a great deal as we continue to engage with portfolios and everyone who is in the process.

There are a few important updates that I want to share with everyone. These are incorporated in the Certification Manual and are also listed on the Updates to the Manual page.