Phoebe Ministries’ Pastoral Education Program Seeks Summer 2021 Applicants to Serve Older Adults

Phoebe Ministries seeks applicants for the 2021 Summer CPE Program for those seeking Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) certification.

The 2021 Summer CPE program is full-time, 40-hours per week and runs ten weeks beginning May 24, 2021 through July 30, 2021. Three and a half days are spent in clinical assignments available at Phoebe Berks in Wernersville, Pa., and Phoebe Richland in Richlandtown, Pa. Group seminars include one day on the Allentown campus and four hours virtually.

The Phoebe Ministries’ CPE program is designed to offer clergy, seminary students and qualified community members of all faiths the opportunity to practice ministry to older adults in a variety of settings, including nursing homes and retirement communities. The CPE curriculum includes spiritual assessment, bioethical issues in aging, ministry to persons with dementia, and life review. Phoebe staff chaplains provide mentoring and guidance for students as they lead worship, Bible study, bereavement and support groups, and Spirit Alive™, Phoebe’s proprietary Montessori-based program developed for older adults with dementia. Interdisciplinary care conferences and case consultations for residents are also part of each student’s education. Each campus setting provides opportunities for students to develop long-term pastoral relationships comparable to parish experiences.

Phoebe Ministries is accredited as a center for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. It is one of only 10 accredited CPE programs in the nation serving the long-term care setting.

For more information and application, visit Phoebe Ministries-Clinical Pastoral Education or contact the Rev. Dr. Scott Brooks Cope, director of pastoral care and lead educator, or the Rev. Leah Knox, CPE certified education candidate and co-facilitator. Application deadline is May 1, 2021. Scholarships are available for those who qualify.