Training and Counseling Center at St. Luke's: Clinical Pastoral Education

Why CPE?

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) began in 1925 as a method of practical learning for seminary students within clinical settings where ministry is applied. In CPE the primary text is the “living human document,” and students learn as they participate in supervised encounters with individuals in crisis. Unlike traditional CPE programs, TACC is one of few centers nationwide that offer CPE within an urban setting. Instead of completing service hours at a hospital or hospice, TACC’s CPE students are involved in ministry at one of five nonprofits located in downtown Atlanta. These sites, Crossroads Community Ministries, Emmaus House, Central Outreach & Advocacy Center, Church of the Holy Comforter, and Church for the Common Ground, serve clients who are homeless, drug addicted, unemployed, mentally and physically disabled, and/or youth at-risk. TACC accepts 15-20 students each year who are either in their second year of seminary, have graduated or are in the ordination process. Once accepted, students are required to complete 300 hours of service at their clinical site and 100 hours of supervision in a peer group reflection process. During peer group sessions, students present clinical material which reflects their involvement with clients/guests at their assigned site. Within the context of intentional learning, students discover both their gifts and limitations as they are challenged to grow in their faith and their pastoral identity.

TACC's CPE Offerings

Under the supervision of Rev. Mary Catherine Cole and Rev. Miriam A. Needham, TACC offers Level I/II CPE as an intensive Summer unit (10 weeks) and a Fall/Spring extended unit (27 weeks). Admission to the program is based on the completion of the CPE application and interview.

Upcoming CPE Sessions
Fall/Spring Extended Unit: October 24, 2011 - April 20, 2012

Summer Intensive Unit: May 29, 2012 - August 3, 2012

CPE Director

The Rev. Mary Catherine Cole

Mary Catherine Cole received her M.Div. from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. She is an ordained Baptist minister and is endorsed with the Alliance of Baptists. Mary Catherine began her CPE journey with the Emory Center for Pastoral Services in an internship at the University Hospital. Her clinical assignments there included the neurology and cardiology units. Upon graduation from seminary, she continued her clinical training at Grady Health System with the Institute for Chaplaincy and CPE at the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. It was at Grady that she began to understand her vocational call to be a Pastoral Educator. Mary Catherine’s interests in ministering with the poor and disenfranchised, to and with women in crisis and change, as well as her pursuit of supervisory education all came together in Fall 2006 when she accepted a supervisory training position with The Institute for Chaplaincy and CPE at Metro State Women’s Prison. While at Metro, she spent time developing pastoral relationships with both the staff and the inmates at Metro, as well as developing the CPE internship program. In August 2009, Mary Catherine accepted a supervisory faculty position at Greenville Hospital System/University Medical Center and was the Manager of CPE at GHS for nearly two years before joining TACC as CPE Supervisor and Director.

Adjunct Faculty
Rev. Dr. Lewis Kola, Care and Counseling Center of Georgia

Dr. John Blevins, Rollins School for Public Health, Emory University

Bill Bolling, Atlanta Community Food Bank

Rev. Dr. Thee Smith, Religion Department, Emory University

Gerald Boyd, National Coalition Building Institute

Rev. Nibs Stroupe, Oakhurst Presbyterian Church

Rev. Robin Brown-Haithco, Emory Center for Pastoral Services

Rev. Dr. Luther Smith, Candler School of Theology, Emory University

Rev. Martha Wright

Rev. Mary Logan

Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins, Columbia Theological Seminary

Rev. Dr. Gene Robinson, Emory Center for Pastoral Services

Stan Dawson, Crossroads Community Ministries