Clinical Pastoral Education

WellSpan Health has sponsored Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) training programs at York Hospital since 1972 and at Gettysburg Hospital since 2001. WellSpan Health is accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education to offer Level I CPE, Level II CPE, and Supervisory CPE.

Over the years, over 300 students have participated in our various CPE programs. The clinical opportunities for ministry in the WellSpan setting are vast and varied. This site will help you understand opportunities in Clinical Pastoral Education and will provide information on the educational program.

Summer CPE Units and Extended CPE Units are available at York Hospital and Gettysburg Hospital. The CPE Residency of WellSpan Health is only available at the York Hospital site.

Supervisory CPE at WellSpan Health is only available at the York Hospital site, although a student in Supervisory CPE may supervise units at Gettysburg Hospital during the course of his or her training.

What is Clinical Pastoral Education?

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is theological and professional education for ministry. Our program is designed to emphasize the importance of pastoral relationship and the centrality of each person's sacred story. The curriculum integrates personal history, theology, the behavioral sciences, and spiritual development with pastoral skills.

CPE is a clinical experience of learning using the action/reflection/action model of education. This model allows us to study the "living human document" - a term pioneered by the Rev. Anton T. Boisen, which helps us capture the idea of the case study method in theological education. A Professional Consultation Committee assists the Director of Pastoral Care and Education and the Manager of Pastoral Care in the supervision of the program.

Training Environment - York Hospital

At York Hospital clinical assignments link students to patients, families, and staff of a particular service line including inpatients and outpatients. Service lines are Behavioral Health, Cardiovascular, Medical, Oncology, Surgery, and Women/Children. There is also a clinical placement (for Chaplain Residents only) at Memorial Hospital, a small community hospital a few miles away.

This focused experience is augmented by the experience of being the "on call" chaplain. The "on call" chaplain is responsible for provision of pastoral care throughout the hospital at night, on weekends, and on holidays.

Programs available at York Hospital are Extended CPE, Summer CPE and CPE Residency.
See application* and admission process.

International applicants

International applicants are encouraged to review this ACPE link for complete requirements, application deadlines, and forms:  http://www.acpe.edu/Exchange_Visitor.htm.

Here is a brief summary of the Department of State.

• Application deadline to WellSpan Health - September 1;  Materials to  ACPE - January 1 
• Only "Trainee" category currently accepted for Residency
• An in-person or web conference interview is required;   
• Proof of paid insurance
• WellSpan process:
  •  International applicant is a non-citizen who is applying from outside the United States.  All other applicants must adhere to admission procedures.    International applicants must submit application materials no later than September 1.
  • Please submit all the required materials as indicated on the ACPE application.
  • We accept persons applying for Residency who have a Graduate degree in theology, a previous unit of CPE, or experience in Chaplaincy.
  • After an assessment of the application and a determination to proceed with the application process, we will send a videotape of interview questions for the international applicant to answer.  The international applicant must submit a videotape answering the questions; WellSpan will follow up the submitted video with a phone call.  
  • Proof of paid insurance is the responsibility of the international applicant; References are found on the above named website.  
  • Only international applicants who conclude the process will be considered for CPE Residency.  
  • After receiving a letter of acceptance from the international applicant, an application for J-1 Visa must be completed by January 1.
  • International applicants must be in York, PA no later than August 10.

Training Environment - Gettysburg Hospital

Gettysburg Hospital is a community hospital. Student assignments are in settings that provide diversity, with the emphasis on community health and extensive involvement in clinical placements outside the hospital. Through individual supervision and a variety of seminars, we provide the CPE student with an opportunity to learn from experience, through active reflection on ministry.

Programs available at Gettysburg Hospital are Extended CPE and Summer CPE.
See application* and admission process.

2009 - 2010 Schedule

Summer Unit - York Hospital
May 26, 2009 to August 7, 2009 

• Full time
• Meals provided
• Level I or Level II CPE
• Site - York Hospital
• Supervisors - Rev. Ken Hayden/Rev. Dr. Ted Trout-Landen

CPE Residency
August 24, 2009 - August 22, 2010 (Stipend $30,000)

• Full time
• Employee Benefits
• Meals provided
• Level I or Level II CPE
• Site - York Hospital
• Supervisors - Rev. Ken Hayden/Rev. Dr. Ted  L. Trout-Landen

Extended CPE Unit - York
October 5, 2009 - April 12, 2010

• Part time
• Meals provided
• Level I or Level II CPE
• Site - York Hospital
• Supervisor - Rev. Dr. Ted  L. Trout-Landen

Extended CPE Unit - Gettysburg Hospital
October 5, 2009 - April 26, 2010

• Part time
• Meals provided
• Level 1 or Level II CPE
• Site- Gettysburg Hospital; various agencies
• Supervisor: Rev. Peter Kuhn

Summer CPE Unit - Gettysburg Hospital
May 26, 2009 - August 7, 2009

• Full time
• Meals provided
• Level 1 or Level II CPE
• Site- Gettysburg Hospital; various agencies
• Supervisor: Rev. Peter Kuhn

Student Objectives and Outcomes
ACPE has established objectives and outcomes for all CPE programs. These are found in the Standards of the ACPE, 2005 and may be found by clicking on Objectives and Outcomes.

Supervision of the Educational Process

The Rev. Dr. Ted Trout-Landen, Director of Pastoral Care and Education, WellSpan Health, is an ordained minister and holds ecclesiastical endorsement in the United Church of Christ. He holds a B.A. in Religion and Philosophy from Elizabethtown College, an M. Div. from Union Theological Seminary, and an S. T. M. and D. Min. from New York Theological Seminary. Ted is a Certified Supervisor in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, and a Board Certified Chaplain of the Association of Professional Chaplains.

The Rev. Ken R. Hayden, the Manager of Pastoral Care and Education, York Hospital, is an ordained United Methodist Minister, endorsed by the Division of Chaplains of the United Methodist Church. He holds a MS in Educational Psychology from Southern Illinois University and a M.Div. from St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. Ken is a certified CPE Supervisor in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and an Endorsed Chaplain, Division of Chaplains and Related Ministries and a member of the Eastern Delaware Nation.

The Rev. Peter Kuhn, the Manager of Pastoral Care and Education, Gettysburg Hospital, is an ordained minister in the Protestant Church of the Rhineland, in communion with the United Church of Christ and part of the Protestant Church of Germany. He holds an M. Div. from the University of Heidelberg in Germany. Peter is a certified CPE Supervisor in the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Peter trained at North Carolina Baptist Hospital and has served as pastor of different congregations in Germany.

Application and Admission Process

You may get a CPE application from ACPE, any CPE center.or by clicking here.

*Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click here to download.   

Every accredited CPE center is required to have an Admissions Policy. The policies for WellSpan Health can be found by clicking on admission policy.

Accreditation

Programs of CPE are accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), 1549 Clairmont Rd., Suite 103, Decatur, GA 30033, (404) 320-1472; http://www.wellspan.org/www.acpe.edu.

There are three levels of training for which a center may be accredited: Level I CPE, Level 2 CPE and Supervisory CPE. ACPE is nationally recognized as an accrediting agency in the field of clinical pastoral education by the U. S. Secretary of Education through the U. S. Department of Education. CPE programs accredited by ACPE are required to indicate accreditation in all promotional materials.

Contact Us

WellSpan Health - Pastoral Care and Education
The Rev. Dr. Ted L. Trout-Landen, Director
Phone: (717) 851-2305
Email: ttrout-landen@wellspan.org  

York Hospital
The Rev. Ken Hayden, Manager, York Hospital
1001 S. George Street, PO Box 15198, York, PA 17405
E-mail: khayden@wellspan.org  
Phone: (717) 851-2305; Fax: (717) 851-4715

Gettysburg Hospital
The Rev. Peter Kuhn, Manager, Gettysburg Hospital
147 Gettys Street, PO Box 3786, Gettysburg, PA 17325
Email: pkuhn3@wellspan.org  
Phone: (717) 337-4300; Fax: (717) 339-2037

Giving to Pastoral Care and Education

The department of Pastoral Care and Education is deeply invested in broadening its mission of highlighting the relationship between spirituality and health in WellSpan.  We make pastoral care available to all patients, family and staff as well as offering programs of Clinical Pastoral Education.  We are currently fundraising for the new Interfaith Chapel at York Hospital.  To learn more about how you can make a gift to support this mission, please contact Theresa Law, at tlaw@wellspan.org..