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Clinical Pastoral Education

Our program is designed to educate ministers in the art and science of pastoral care according to the standards of ACPE, Inc. and to provide other educational events that help local ministers in maintaining the health of people they serve.

Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple offers several training programs in Clinical Pastoral Education. Our training program is accredited by the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.


Because of the complete range of services at Baylor Scott & White, CPE students have available a wide variety of ministry experiences to function as members of the health care team.

Curriculum

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) uses the action/reflection model of learning. Pastoral and professional identity, as well as pastoral competency, are increased as students integrate their personal experiences with theoretical materials. Learning emerges as students reflect on themselves and their ministry within the context of the hospital, with the introduction of appropriate theoretical materials from theology and behavioral sciences. Each participant is assigned a clinical area so that he/she can observe real-life situations.


The curriculum is designed to create a learning environment where students feel challenged and respected regardless of differences. A student’s self-determined learning goals serve as a launching pad for the educational experience.

Program Options and Eligibility

The residency program curriculum offers four units of CPE during the calendar year. It begins in September and ends in August of each year. A competitive stipend and benefits are offered. The schedule includes a five-day workweek in additional to hospital coverage duties in rotation with their peers and other chaplains. Students are not charged tuition, but some expense is required for books and other activities. A second-year residency program is not offered at this time.

Requirements

To enter the residency training program, a prior unit of CPE is required. Formal education includes an undergraduate degree and a Master of Divinity/Theology or equivalent. Ordination, endorsement or commissioning is preferred but not required.

The Summer Intensive CPE Unit is between 10-12 weeks long. It includes a five-day workweek in addition to hospital coverage duties on some nights and weekends. Coverage of the hospital is in rotation with peers and other chaplains.


Programs are open to area ministers, seminary students and interested laypersons. Ordained and Lay ministers may also opt to use their current places of ministry outside of the hospital with approval by the CPE Supervisor as counting toward the required clinical hours.

Requirements

Tuition for the Summer Intensive CPE Unit is $350. There is a $30 application fee that is applied to the tuition if accepted. A $75 acceptance deposit is required to secure a position in the program, and it will be applied to your tuition as well. The purchase of some text is required. The latter will be kept at a minimum to save expense.

The Extended CPE Unit is between 18 and 20 weeks long. This program is designed as a part-time educational experience yet offers the same opportunities and challenges of any CPE unit. Trainees can grow in their ability to provide pastoral presence to people who receive difficult news regarding a loved one or unexpected diagnosis. This program is open to area ministers, seminary students and interested laypersons who want to further their theological education through CPE.

Trainees increase skill in helping people experiencing chronic and acute crises and explore how theology informs pastoral care.

Programs are open to may also opt to use their current place of ministry, outside of the hospital, as counting toward the required clinical hours, with approval by the CPE Supervisor. In addition to the clinical responsibilities, each participant shares the on-call rotation with their peers and other chaplains. This provides the participant a rich learning experience in providing pastoral care to a variety of ministry encounters, including intense crisis.

Requirements

Tuition for this program is $350 for on-site clinical placement and $750 for off-site clinical placement. There is a $30 application fee that is applied to the tuition if accepted. A $75 acceptance deposit is required to secure a position in the program, and it will be applied to your tuition as well. The purchase of some text is required. The latter will be kept at a minimum to save expense.

  • Train at one of U.S. News & World Report's top hospitals in Texas

    Baylor Scott & White Medical Center - Temple is a 640-bed teaching and research hospital with a Level I trauma center.

    Snapshot of our campus

How to Apply

Eligible candidates for all programs are required to complete a CPE application form and provide the application fee. For the residency training program, candidates must send copies of previous self and supervisor evaluations from past CPE units to be considered. If a candidate sends an application after the positions have been filled, all application materials and fees will be returned.

Download application

Interview and Acceptance

We review all completed applications. Eligible candidates may be extended an invitation to interview with the CPE educators and members of the Pastoral Advisory Committee.

Once accepted into the program, candidates must submit a letter of acceptance.

Contact Us

Misty Ballard
Phone: 254.724.1181
Fax: 254.724.9007
Misty.Ballard@BSWHealth.org

Clinical Pastoral Education
Baylor Scott & White Health
2401 S. 31st St.MS-01-108 
Temple, TX 76508

Working at Baylor Scott & White Health

Compensation and Benefits

The stipend for residents is set at $34,930 paid in 26 installments over a 12-month period. In addition to a competitive stipend, we offer our residents a full menu of employee benefits. We help offset the cost of many of these benefits; others are options you can choose to pay for yourself.

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Life in Temple

Temple uniquely offers a combination of access to big-city conveniences while maintaining a small-town atmosphere. Temple has also been ranked among the Top 20 Fastest Growing Cities in Texas and one of America's most affordable places of 2015.

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Why Baylor Scott & White

As the largest not-for-profit health care system in Texas and one of the largest in the United States, Baylor Scott & White Health includes 48 hospitals, more than 900 patient care sites, more than 6,000 active physicians and more than 40,000 employees.

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