CPE Program

CPE Program at Baptist Hospital

CPE is an educational program in which students work as pastors to patients, families and staff in the hospital. The emphasis is on providing spiritual care and reflecting upon one’s pastoral practice in order that ministry formation and development may occur. This process is facilitated through experiential learning: doing ministry, personal reflection, feedback from peers and supervisor, participation in theoretical and theological discussions, and the subsequent application of one’s learning to ministry relationships.

CPE Residents have the opportunity to develop ministry specialization. In addition to this, residents are expected to assume administrative responsibilities within the context of the hospital and the Department of Pastoral Care. Specialty areas are negotiated between the student, supervisor and CPE Consultation Committee. Specialization should meet the student’s learning needs as well as the hospital’s needs. Current specialty areas include, but are not limited to, oncology, psychiatry, geriatrics, cardiac and trauma.

Baptist Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education program is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), We Work, Floor 4, 120 West Trinity Place, Decatur, GA 30030 Phone: 404.320.1472, Fax: 404.320.0849, Email: acpe@acpe.edu

CPE Internship and Residencies

CPE students at Baptist Hospital may participate in one of three types of educational positions: residency, part-time internship and full-time internship. These positions provide pastoral care to patients, families and staff within assigned areas. This service forms the context in which professional education for ministry takes place. Those serving in these positions are recognized as an integral part of the pastoral care program, as well as professionals continuing to develop pastoral competence.

Residents: Residents are full-time CPE students. These individuals completed an application, successfully met an Admissions Committee and were offered a 12-month residency. Residents participate five days a week, in addition to a minimum of one 24-hour in-house shift per week, which includes some weekends and holidays. They become full-time hospital team members for the educational period and receive full-time benefits. Currently, residents are compensated $36,000 per 12-month educational period.

Extended Interns/Part Time Interns: The part-time intern position is designed for community clergy, qualified laypersons and theological students. The program meets two days a week for a period of approximately 20 weeks. The extended intern participates in ministry and educational opportunities during these two days, in addition to three 24-hour in-house shifts every month.

Full-time Interns: The full-time intern position is designed for theological students, community clergy and qualified laypersons. Full-time interns participate full time five days a week, in addition to a minimum of one 24-hour in-house shift per week, which includes some weekends and holidays. The full-time intern program is for 11-14 weeks and corresponds with the resident's schedule.

Summer Intern: The Summer Intern position is designed for theological students, community clergy, and qualified laypersons. Summer Interns participate full time five days a week, in addition to a minimum of one 24-hour shift in-house coverage per week, which includes some weekends and holidays. The full-time intern program is for 11-14 weeks and corresponds with the resident's schedule.

Parish/Community Based Internships: This part-time internship is designed for clergy and laity working full time in a ministry setting who want the experiential learning CPE affords and need to complete their clinical commitment in their parish/institution.