Last Tuesday, 20 weeks of intense involvement came to a close as I completed the first unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Piedmont Fayette Hospital, through the College for Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy.
After I had been seen around the hospital for a few weeks, an auxiliary volunteer asked me, “Why are you doing this? You have been visiting the hospital for decades.”
It was a fair question, one for which I did not have a very good answer. The best answer I could give to her was that I felt that I should.
Sometimes the reasons become clearer with hindsight than with foresight. Looking back on it I think I can now come up with some valid reasons, even with all I have going on in my life, for why I enrolled in CPE:
· To complete a missing part of my ministerial education and preparedness. I did not enter the ministry with the normal four-year undergraduate degree and three year seminary degree. My education came in fits and starts over a protracted period of time. I didn’t complete my ATS accredited seminary degree until 2000 and finished my formal graduate studies in 2011.
That’s a long time since I began serving as a pastor in 1974. CPE was a missing piece. Some people enroll in CPE during seminary. I enrolled after 40+ years of ministry.
· I wanted to show support for what several of the clergy in our church and diocese were doing. Sometimes the best way to be supportive is to demonstrate rather than just share words. I wanted to be part of the CPE world that a number of our clergy have invested in so heavily.
· I wanted to hone some important skills. Over my career, I have taken several courses in preaching, even though I have been preaching for a long time. I think one can always learn more and I think than one can always learn to do something in a better way. I suppose that, in the beginning, I intended to fine tune my “hospital skills.”
· I was preparing for the future. I am assuming that I will always serve as the pastor of my current church. I was a part-time hospice chaplain for two organizations prior to the CPE that is now a requirement. If I ever wanted to return to that field on a part-time basis, I have to meet the current requirements. I now have an option open to me that was heretofore closed. Not a bad thing to have.
· I wanted a challenge. Over my lifetime, I have always found new challenges that interest me. Although I did not really grasp the amount of work I would have to do and did not appreciate how difficult it would be to integrate CPE with my other responsibilities, it most certainly was a worthy challenge.
As indicated, these reasons are seen in hindsight as the 20 weeks unfolded. There were several situations that I did not anticipate:
· I did not anticipate the personal insight that came over the course. I expected to learn a great deal. I did not expect so much learning about myself.
· I did not anticipate the level of diversity in the classroom. I expected that other clergy would be students. I did not expect that I would be the only male student and that, really, none of the other clergy would be from “mainstream” denominations.
· I did not anticipate shying away from certain types of medical cases: Cancer and neonatal, for example. In fact, for most of the class, I did not realize that I was doing so.
· I did not anticipate feeling as competent in emergencies. That may sound prideful but the reality is that, because of my experience, I felt that I could be of help during codes and crises. When a code was called, I immediately stepped up unless prevented by another situation.
· I did not anticipate so much attention on cultural awareness. I am very pleased that there was the attention to the subject and I greatly benefited from it.
· I did not anticipate enrolling in Unit 2. My intention was to take only one unit. I have indicated that I will be returning for another 20 weeks.
I am very grateful for the leadership and support of the CPE supervisor, Chaplain Dr. James Taylor. I have learned a great deal from both his teaching and example.
I am also grateful for the involvement of the other CPE instructor and chaplain, the Rev. Kim Hollman, who was always available to answer questions and share wisdom.
I am grateful for the students with whom I shared this 20 weeks and have been enriched by their experience and sharing. The experience has been more than I anticipated and I believe that I am a better minister and a better person for it.
I would recommend the experience to anyone serious about caring ministry — ordained or not.
[David Epps is the pastor of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Sharpsburg, GA (www.ctkcec.org). He is the bishop of the Mid-South Diocese which consists of Georgia and Tennessee (www.midsouthdiocese.org) and the Associate Endorser for the Department of the Armed Forces, U. S. Military Chaplains, ICCEC. He may contacted at frepps@ctkcec.org.]
