Shore Health System recently began a new session of the Clinical Pastoral Education Program with five chaplain interns. This advanced clinical and pastoral education program prepares clergy and lay ministers for their work with the sick and their families.

The national standard for certification as a hospital chaplain requires a minimum of four units of clinical pastoral education. A unit consists of 400 hours of supervised ministry, didactic education and group process. The chaplain interns see patients and their families at all units of Shore Health System and apply their training in religious congregations out in the community.

Ordained ministers and lay people who participate in clinical pastoral education receive specialized training in a healthcare setting that augments their general education in ministry. The program is scheduled so that local clergy may study while still serving their own congregations.

Interns participating in the fall session of clinical pastoral education are Rev. Gregory Ball of Cambridge, who is beginning his fourth unit of chaplain training; Rev. Jody Gunn of Cordova and Rev. Jerome Tilghman of Cambridge, who are continuing the program with their third unit of training; Elder Terry Turpin of Salisbury and Rev. Rebecca Kelly of Preston, who are taking their first unit of clinical pastoral education. Rev. David G. Berg of Annapolis is the program supervisor.

The Shore Health System Clinical Pastoral Education Program is accredited by the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy. For more information about this program and the Shore Health System Chaplain Associate program, contact Brian Childs, PhD, director of ethics and spiritual are at 410-822-1000, extension 5259.