On May 23, Shore Health System began a new session of 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.

Rev. David G. Berg of Annapolis is the program supervisor. Interns participating are Delores Pinder and Imanuel Johnson of St. Michaels; Vinton Fisher of Chester; Paulette Jones of Severn; John Turner of Centerville.

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 consult with patients and their families at all Shore Health System facilities, including the Memorial Hospital at Easton, Dorchester General Hospital in Cambridge and Shore Regional Cancer Center in Easton. The trainees apply their learning in religious congregations out in the community.

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

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 care, 410-822-1000 or 410-228-5511, extension 5259. Also visit www.shorehealth.org/services/pastoral.

In photo: Rev. David G. Berg (far right), supervisor for the Shore Health System Clinical Pastoral Education Program, and Brian H. Childs, PhD (middle),  director of ethics and spiritual care for Shore Health System, welcome chaplain interns (left to right Delores Pinder, Vinton Fisher, Imanuel Johnson, Paulette Jones and John Turner