Hi all, haven't been around much and wanted to share my news - I've been accepted into the CPE

[54anickel]

program at one of the area hospitals. I am so excited! We start on the 25th.

[RevCheesehead]

1. Good luck and God bless you!

Keep us posted on how it's going... and if ya need to vent, you know where to find us. :hi:

[54anickel]

2. Thanks Rev! Ya think I'll be needing to vent? I really don't know what to expect....n/t

[Lydia Leftcoast]

3. Good luck!

Is this part of seminary training for you?

[54anickel]

13. No, I am on more of a lay-ministry path. I completed my 2 years of

diakonia through the ELCA, which is sort of a mini seminary - all the breadth not quite the depth. I may move on into the TEEM program of the ELCA after completing CPE - depends where the spirit moves me I guess.

https://archive.elca.org/leadership/liderazgo/english/teem.html

Theological Education for Emerging Ministries (TEEM) is a process by which the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America approves for the roster of ordained ministers those persons "who by reason of age and prior experience" (Constitution 7.31.14) are qualified to participate in an alternative program of preparation for ordination.

I'm blocked from studying to become a "full-fledged" chaplain due to the lack of a BA degree. I started on my BA after loosing my job as a product development engineer few years back. I managed to get quite a few credits transferred, accumulated all the credits I could through proficiency tests and made it through 3 classes at UofPhoenix before getting fed up and quiting. I really did not like that place or it's curriculum.

Anyway, I would have never guessed "being church" could get so political. I sort of understand the minimal educational requirements....guess we've come a long way from the days of taking ordinary fishermen and making them "fishers of men". :hippie:

[Critters2]

18. For continuing ed, I've taken some online classes at Wartburg

that qualified for TEEM. I enjoyed the classes, the online chat rooms, and the faculty. If you're looking to do more, I'd recommend Wartburg.

[54anickel]

22. That's where I was planning on. My Pastor went to Wartburg. I was just there

this past spring to catch Mark Alan Powell at one of their Theology Conference thingies.

[supernova]

4. How wonderful!

Congratulations!

:D

So are you really thinking about a hospital chaplaincy?

[54anickel]

8. Yeah, you know me Supernova, been thinking about and working around that idea for a long time....n/t

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. I see you are in Wisconsin - where are you doing CPE? LaCrosse and Eau Claire have great programs.

CPE, if you get a group of mature people and not asswipes who are there for their own therapy, can be a truly life-expanding experience.

I assume you are also in seminary, working toward an M.Div.? If so, where?

[Critters2]

6. On the other hand, if you get asswipes who are there for their own therapy,

:nuke:

And if you get a supervisor who's there for his own on-going therapy, well, just remember, murder is illegal and it's only 12 weeks.

Oh, great. Now I'm going to have nightmares and flashbacks and whatnot.

[54anickel]

7. Aurora Lakeland. Their supervisor is great and the hospital I've been assigned to has a

wonderful Chaplain who has been at it for quite some time.

Aurora itself...well that's another story around these parts. Ya either love 'em or hate 'em as a health care facility and/or employer.

[Critters2]

11. My dad has been pleased with Aurora, though I've heard others complain about 'em.

He and/or my mom had some kind of bad experience with the hospital in West Bend, I think around the confusion my mom was having early in her illness. So, they switched to Aurora facilities, the hospital in Hartford, and then the cancer center at St. Luke in Milwaukee. My dad still speaks glowingly about those experiences, including the chaplains at St. Luke, who were really good to him and my mom.

So, I guess my dad is in the "love 'em" category.

From that experience, I'd say you'll be getting supervision from some good folks, as much as one can generalize.

[54anickel]

14. Yep, they've been wonderful with my sister, although now she spends more time

with Froedert due to being on their transplant list. Her endocrinologist couldn't stand the politics at St Lukes/Aurora and left. I have a friend who is a clinic supervisor and she swears she will never work for Aurora. I have another who is a nurse there and loves it.....

See what I mean.

[Critters2]

16. My dad was so impressed with 'em, that when I suggested he and my mom get

a second opinion as to treatment of my mom's cancer, he wouldn't do it. He was convinced they were getting the best care possible.

For the record, I honored that, even though I had some concerns. My mom also got good care at a nursing home in Hartford that was next to the Aurora hospital there, but I don't think it was an Aurora facility.

I'm always suspicious of the big health care chains, after working as a consumer advocate, but that's me.

[54anickel]

19. I hear you on the big health care chains. Lakeland was a county hospital

until Aurora purchased and privatized it. I don't know of any left in the area that aren't part of a big chain. I don't see how a county run one could even begin to compete with the big chains anymore.

Glad to hear your parents were well cared for.

[Critters2]

24. 54nickel, this just occurred to me...

Your sister's waiting for a transplant? Should we be praying for her?

[54anickel]

25. Ah, see Critters2 -- that's one of the many ways reveal you are a Rev/Pastor...

You see the "community of saints" everywhere and so easily point to it and call upon it.
I, on the other hand have to keep my eyes peeled for "the God stuff" around me...including a political discussion board that just so happens to have a group set up for Christian Liberals/Progressive People of Faith. :slapsforehead:

Anyway, thank you for the offer - and yes. Please pray for my sister. Her spirits remain high and her faith strong while she has grown considerably weaker the past couple of months.

And for myself as I enter CPE, for guidance, wisdom and discernment as I follow where my heart is called.

[wryter2000]

9. CPE?

I'm not familiar with the term.

[Critters2]

10. Clinical Pastoral Education.

Sort of a chaplaincy internship in a hospital, but with some pretty intensive supervision.

[wryter2000]

21. Awesome

Congratulations! :yourock:

[Critters2]

12. Are you in an MDiv, or doing CPE independently?

Oh, and ignore any cynical statements I make concerning CPE. I had a sucky supervisor.

[54anickel]

15. I'm doing it independently. Glutton for punishment I guess - LOL!

You're not the only one that has had a sucky supervisor. My Pastor had the same thing, I've heard quite a few of her CPE tales.

[Critters2]

17. Again, take this for what it's worth..

but when life is difficult, I tell myself "I got through CPE. I'll get through this." No reason to think you're experience will be the same. I think the whole system has improved in the 20 years since then.

Are you hoping to do chaplaincy, or an MDiv later, or something? I have a friend who's an Orthodox Christian woman, so can't be ordained, but has done a bunch of CPE and works as a hospital chaplain. I don't know her in that capacity, but I'd be willing to bet she's as good a chaplain as any ordained clergy on the planet.

I really hope you have a great experience, and find a way to make use of all you learn!

[54anickel]

20. Thanks Critters, for both the heads up and well wishes. It's reassuring to hear

about your friend as well. There's still hope for me! :bounce:

[54anickel]

23. Thanks so much to all for the well wishes and words of kindness...n/t

[54anickel]

26. Stick a fork in me! I 'm DONE!!!

I hope I wasn't "one of those" in it for their own therapy, but I did end up working on myself quite a bit. It was a great experience, but a lot of hard work - spiritually and emotionally draining. I got better at making those visits toward the end of my unit. Guess I'm a little introverted for that type of work. I only wish my group would have been more diverse - little heavy on the "evangelical" side for me. Although that alone helped me to face some of my baggage that needed unpacking.

[RevCheesehead]

27. Congratulations!

Now get out there and have a beer, on me! :toast:

[54anickel]

29. Thanks Rev! If you don't mind I'll pass on the beer for a double martini,

shaken, with olives!

:beer:

[supernova]

28. Greak work, 45anickel!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I'm sure you'd be a great hospital chaplain.

I sometimes think that in another life, in another parallel universe I might be doing similar work. I dunno.

[54anickel]

30. Thanks supernova! My guess is you do similar work now in your relationships be they

on-line or face-to-face.
:hi: :hug: