Students complete Clinical Pastoral Education at NGMC

GAINESVILLE - A seventh group of students has completed Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC). The unit began the week of Jan. 7 and concluded this week. <br /> <br /> Five students completed the spring unit of training, including Chaplains Jerry Cameron, Jerry Johnson, Brian Malcom, Mary Powell and Grady Walden.<br /> <br /> CPE is a clinical theological training experience for clergy that consists of classes focused on pastoral care, classes led by clinical team members in the hospital, ministry reflection seminars, individual and group supervision and at least 18 hours of ministry at NGMC's Main and Lanier Park Campuses and the chaplains' parishes. The graduate level education is for ministers who want to learn more about pastoral care in an institutional setting. <br /> <br /> The heart of this educational experience is the student's ministry with people and learning from that ministry through reflection, discussion and evaluation with other students and their educational supervisor.<br /> <br /> The history of CPE goes back 75 years. It grew from the need to train theological students through direct experiences with people. The founders of this educational movement believed that theological education had become too classroom-bound. Thus, they began to place students in general hospitals, psychiatric hospitals and prisons to help students understand how God relates with people in need.<br /> <br /> One unit of training usually consists of 400 hours over a 10-week period. However, an extended model has been adapted to facilitate ministers who serve full-time parishes. This extended 18-week model is used at NGMC. Clinical Pastoral Education will be offered again this fall. If you are interested, contact NGMC Chaplain Jeff Thompson at 770-535-3563.