Clinical Pastoral Education Distance Learning Collaborative Graduates Inaugural Class
Last year , Pine Rest started partnering with the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church in America to offer Clinical Pastoral Education ( CPE ) sessions in specific locations across the continent via a digital platform . The accredited program helps pastors and seminarians increase their pastoral skills , self-awareness and spiritual leadership . Five people received training in the first class at New Brunswick Theological Seminary in New Jersey .
“ All considered the program a success and expressed deep gratitude for this opportunity and how well it fit their schedules . The group bonded together and supported each other in their individual ministries ,” says Rev . Karl Van Harn , DMin , leader of the four-month program .
Participants realized how much they had longed for this kind of group , where they can be accepted as they talk about the frustrations , loneliness and joys of ministry . They appreciated the practice of applying their reflections to their ministry . The relationships they built will continue , which is one of the goals of the grant program .
The inaugural class at New Brunswick Theological Seminary ( L to R ): Tom Giglio , Market Street Mission , Morristown , NJ , and Pottersville Reformed Church , Pottersville , NJ ; Yunna Kim , Willow Grove Korean Reformed Church , Willow Grove , PA ; Karl Van Harn , Pine Rest CPE Director ; Gene Voss , First Reformed Church , Lincoln Park , NJ ; Vito Baldini , Liberti Church Center City & Main Line , Philadelphia , PA ; and Debbie Pierce , Ponds Reformed Church , Oakland , NJ .
“ I definitely recommend Telehealth to other parents of young kids . It was a huge relief for me to do therapy via technology . Previously , the stress from sorting out childcare and running around town took away from the benefits of therapy . Once I started Telehealth , there were only positives that came out of my therapy time .”
– A Pine Rest Telehealth Patient
2017 Pine Rest Annual Report 7