MTSO will be the new home of the Center for Integrative Pastoral Practice

The General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church has chosen Methodist Theological School in Ohio as the new academic home of the Center for Integrative Pastoral Practice, its Clinical Pastoral Education program.

The CIPP program, which GBHEM has operated since 2018, is a vital component in the preparation of future chaplains, spiritual care providers and pastoral counselors, integrating theological knowledge with practical clinical training. It is fully accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education Inc. (ACPE).

MTSO, one of 13 United Methodist seminaries, is accredited by the Association of Theological Schools and the Higher Learning Commission. CIPP at MTSO (mtso.edu/cipp) will build on the school’s existing collaborative efforts with OhioHealth, a nationally recognized, not-for-profit healthcare outreach of the United Methodist Church.

CIPP uses students’ existing ministry settings for the clinical assignments required for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) certification. CIPP at MTSO will serve students who are forging ministry pathways in both traditional and non-traditional contexts, from chaplaincy setting to churches to nonprofits such as social-service organizations and urban farms.

MTSO is prepared to assume operation of CIPP quickly, drawing from existing CIPP educators and those who are working within OhioHealth’s CPE programs. The school will begin offering CPE units in the fall of 2025.

“Clinical Pastoral Education is vital to equipping spiritual leaders with the care practices they need for their unique ministry contexts,” said GBHEM General Secretary Roland Fernandes. “GBHEM was glad to have initiated and run this successful program for several years, but the current context calls us to think in new ways. Theological schools offer essential infrastructure for this kind of formation – recruitment, curriculum development, online study and community building. We are pleased that MTSO is taking on this important work with a proposal that provides exciting possibilities for the future.”

“We at MTSO are pleased to have the opportunity to collaborate with GBHEM as we assume the vital work of the CIPP program,” said MTSO President Jay Rundell. “Because we attract a wide array of students, we have seen the demand rise for community-based CPE. We expect CIPP will address that demand with both current and new constituencies.”

Methodist Theological School in Ohio provides theological education and leadership in pursuit of a just, sustainable and generative world. In addition to the Master of Divinity degree, the school offers master’s degrees in public theology, social justice and theological studies, along with a Doctor of Ministry degree.

CONTACT:

Jeffrey Holman, CIPP at MTSO director
jholman@mtso.edu

Ben Iten, CIPP at MTSO manager
biten@mtso.edu

Danny Russell, communications director
drussell@mtso.edu, 740-362-3322