There is a fine are to pastoral care. Art is not always something that you would expect to find in a clinical setting, but much like doctors are rediscovering the need for art in medicine, chaplains learn the art of ministry in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE).
When I first began CPE, I was a bit leery of the clinical aspect of the program. After all, I really didn't like the idea that something as personal as ministry could be critiqued, studied, criticized, ripped apart and then put back together. It sounded cold and impersonal. Nothing, could be farther from the truth. The atmosphere of our program is one that hones our skills and the clinical portion simply offers a vehicle by which to study the art.
I use the word art intentionally. The ability to minister to people in need is a gift. One can learn how to "paint by numbers" but I would hardly call that person an artist. We can teach people how to go through the motions of pastoral care, but to truly be a master practitioner, I believe that a spiritual gift is necessary. It's like being a pitcher in the major league. Pitching coaches will tell you. "I can't teach a guy to throw a 90 MPH fastball. He can either do it, or he can't. But for the guy that can, I can teach him to throw 95 MPH." So, CPE is about making good pastors, better pastors. It's about looking at the narrow field of "pastoral care" and becoming and expert in that field.
In future articles I will take you through some of the fundamentals that we are learning. Those articles will include: "Don't Just Say Something, Stand There," "Get in, down, up and out: the art of the visit," and "Pastoral Authority: How to own your place on the interdisciplinary medical team." I am going to write these next few articles as a part of my process and I hope they are helpful for you in becoming a better pastor.
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