LSS Clinical Pastoral Education

cwilson@lssmo.org

Through intense involvement with persons in need and feedback from peers and teachers, LSS Clinical Pastoral Education students develop new awareness of themselves as ministers and the needs of those they serve.

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What Does CPE Offer?

LSS offers Level I and Level II Clinical Pastoral Education training through three-month and nine-month programs. Half of a CPE student’s 45-hour week is spent in ministry with residents, staff and family members, giving our Pastoral Care department a greater ability to serve our residents and clients on a one-on-one basis.

Lutheran Senior Services’ CPE program is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. LSS is a member of the St. Louis Cluster of CPE Centers.

Context for Ministry

LSS Clinical Pastoral Education program offers many contexts for ministry. Classes are held on the campus of LSS at Laclede Groves in Webster Groves, MO, and LSS at Meramec Bluffs in Ballwin, MO. Students also have ministry opportunities at LSS retirement communities and/or Affordable Housing sites throughout the St. Louis area. Student chaplains make pastoral contact with residents, families, and staff through visits, Bible classes, worship, devotions and campus activities.

Learning activities include one-on-one ministry with residents, staff and family; individual supervision; reading; writing verbatims; and theological reflection. Group and classroom work includes Morning Prayer, Didactic Seminars, Group Practicum (skill development in supportive counseling), Verbatim conferences (peer supervision) and Interpersonal relations (personal and inter-personal growth).

In addition, intentional reflection is given to key theological issues identified in the various CPE experiences. On a rotating basis, Sunday morning, on-call and evening ministry are also a part of the learning opportunity. CPE students may specialize in a particular area of ministry related to pastoral care, counseling and/or older adult ministry.

Faculty

Reverend Joel Hempel was certified as a CPE supervisor in 1976 by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. He received his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling in 1988. His call as Administrator of Clinical Pastoral Education at Lutheran Senior Services began in July 1990.

Reverend Jeffery Scheer serves as a chaplain at LSS at Meramec Bluffs in Ballwin, MO. As a CPE supervisory candidate, he leads the Extended Unit (part time and extended over six months).

Additional faculty includes individuals from LSS chaplaincy, nursing, and social services staff, as well as counselors, professors, and pastors from the St. Louis community.

Programs

Single Unit
An eleven-week, 45-50 hour-per-week program offered each summer. The program begins in early June and is completed in mid-August.
Internship/Residency
A nine- or twelve-month, full time internship program which begins in early September and ends in mid-May (or mid-August). Students receive a stipend through a grant from The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis and Lutheran Senior Services.
Extended Unit
A six-month, part time program designed to accommodate professional and lay church workers who are currently involved in full-time ministry. Classes meet one day each week from mid-October through late April. An additional day each week is committed to ministry.

Criteria for Admission
Admission into the Single Unit requires a high school degree or GED, active ministry or service experience in a congregation or institution, endorsement by one's local congregation, and the ability to perform the duties of a Student Chaplain, Intern or Vicar, as listed in the LSS CPE policies.

Admission into the Internship/Residency or Vicarage requires o ne unit of ACPE CPE from a center other than LSS CPE; a college degree; ordination (or its equivalent) by one's denomination; endorsement by one's denomination; evidence of intent to be engaged in full-time ministry within a congregation or institution; and a Masters of Divinity degree or its equivalent, OR the intent to seek equivalency.

Application Fee & Tuition

The application fee is $50 (Check should be made out to Lutheran Senior Services CPE). Tuition for the first unit of training is $500. Each additional consecutive unit is $400.

Applying for Admission
Click here for an Application for Admission to LSS CPE or another St. Louis Cluster. Print the form off, complete it, and return it to:

Rev. Joel Hempel
Administrator of Clinical Pastoral Education
Lutheran Senior Services
723 S. Laclede Station Road
St. Louis, MO 63119

Students are encouraged to apply for admission by December of the year prior to the beginning of the program they want to attend. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received. Once an application has been processed, the applicant will be contacted for an interview.

CPE Stipends

As a result of a generous grant from the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, we are able to offer a stipend to nine-month CPE Intens and Vicars to support students’ CPE training and ministry at Lutheran Senior Services. Please see the drop down menu located at the top of this page for stipend applications.

		cwilson@lssmo.org
	Through intense involvement with persons in need and feedback from peers and teachers, LSS Clinical Pastoral Education students develop new awareness of themselves as ministers and the needs of those they serve.
		Or Scroll Down to Learn More!

What Does CPE Offer? LSS offers Level I and Level II Clinical Pastoral Education training through three-month and nine-month programs. Half of a CPE student’s 45-hour week is spent in ministry with residents, staff and family members, giving our Pastoral Care department a greater ability to serve our residents and clients on a one-on-one basis. Lutheran Senior Services’ CPE program is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. LSS is a member of the St. Louis Cluster of CPE Centers.

Context for Ministry LSS Clinical Pastoral Education program offers many contexts for ministry. Classes are held on the campus of LSS at Laclede Groves in Webster Groves, MO, and LSS at Meramec Bluffs in Ballwin, MO. Students also have ministry opportunities at LSS retirement communities and/or Affordable Housing sites throughout the St. Louis area. Student chaplains make pastoral contact with residents, families, and staff through visits, Bible classes, worship, devotions and campus activities. Learning activities include one-on-one ministry with residents, staff and family; individual supervision; reading; writing verbatims; and theological reflection. Group and classroom work includes Morning Prayer, Didactic Seminars, Group Practicum (skill development in supportive counseling), Verbatim conferences (peer supervision) and Interpersonal relations (personal and inter-personal growth). In addition, intentional reflection is given to key theological issues identified in the various CPE experiences. On a rotating basis, Sunday morning, on-call and evening ministry are also a part of the learning opportunity. CPE students may specialize in a particular area of ministry related to pastoral care, counseling and/or older adult ministry.

Faculty Reverend Joel Hempel was certified as a CPE supervisor in 1976 by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. He received his master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling in 1988. His call as Administrator of Clinical Pastoral Education at Lutheran Senior Services began in July 1990. Reverend Jeffery Scheer serves as a chaplain at LSS at Meramec Bluffs in Ballwin, MO. As a CPE supervisory candidate, he leads the Extended Unit (part time and extended over six months). Additional faculty includes individuals from LSS chaplaincy, nursing, and social services staff, as well as counselors, professors, and pastors from the St. Louis community.

Programs Single Unit An eleven-week, 45-50 hour-per-week program offered each summer. The program begins in early June and is completed in mid-August. Internship/Residency A nine- or twelve-month, full time internship program which begins in early September and ends in mid-May (or mid-August). Students receive a stipend through a grant from The Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis and Lutheran Senior Services. Extended Unit A six-month, part time program designed to accommodate professional and lay church workers who are currently involved in full-time ministry. Classes meet one day each week from mid-October through late April. An additional day each week is committed to ministry.

Criteria for Admission Admission into the Single Unit requires a high school degree or GED, active ministry or service experience in a congregation or institution, endorsement by one's local congregation, and the ability to perform the duties of a Student Chaplain, Intern or Vicar, as listed in the LSS CPE policies. Admission into the Internship/Residency or Vicarage requires o ne unit of ACPE CPE from a center other than LSS CPE; a college degree; ordination (or its equivalent) by one's denomination; endorsement by one's denomination; evidence of intent to be engaged in full-time ministry within a congregation or institution; and a Masters of Divinity degree or its equivalent, OR the intent to seek equivalency.

Application Fee & Tuition The application fee is $50 (Check should be made out to Lutheran Senior Services CPE). Tuition for the first unit of training is $500. Each additional consecutive unit is $400. Applying for Admission Click here for an Application for Admission to LSS CPE or another St. Louis Cluster. Print the form off, complete it, and return it to: Rev. Joel Hempel Administrator of Clinical Pastoral Education Lutheran Senior Services 723 S. Laclede Station Road St. Louis, MO 63119 Students are encouraged to apply for admission by December of the year prior to the beginning of the program they want to attend. Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received. Once an application has been processed, the applicant will be contacted for an interview.

CPE Stipends As a result of a generous grant from the Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis, we are able to offer a stipend to nine-month CPE Intens and Vicars to support students’ CPE training and ministry at Lutheran Senior Services. Please see the drop down menu located at the top of this page for stipend applications.