Reclaiming the Spirit of CPE: From Clinical and Pastoral Education to Chaplain and Professional Education

Historical Origins: The Birth of CPE

In June 1925, in Boston, Massachusetts, Anton T. Boisen launched the first unit of what would later be known as CPE. As a pioneering hospital chaplain, his vision was radical for its time: theology should not remain confined to the pulpit or classroom but be tested and refined in the presence of human suffering.

Boisen believed that theology must be lived out and evaluated “at the bedside”—a sacred space where faith meets the fragility and mystery of life. Chaplains-in-training were encouraged to engage theological reflection while offering care to real people in crisis.

At that time, there were no formal certifying bodies for healthcare chaplains or supervisors. Boisen initiated CPE in mental health institutions—then called asylums—training Protestant Christian chaplains through emotionally involved, spiritually engaged, and deeply personal encounters with patients. Having lived through his own mental health struggles, Boisen brought to CPE a profound conviction: spiritual caregivers must be present, vulnerable, and courageous.

The Foundations of CPE: Presence Over Detachment

In its earliest form, CPE was not considered formal academic education. It was simply known as pastoral training—a relational, reflective, and transformative process. The early participants were primarily Christian Protestant men. Over the decades, Roman Catholic priests, Jewish rabbis, and eventually Muslim, Buddhist, and humanist spiritual leaders joined the movement—especially in the 1980s and 1990s. Yet the initial roots remained deeply Christian and pastoral.

Importantly, inclusivity was not part of CPE’s original design. It emerged later, through the vision and advocacy of those who called for a more diverse and interfaith approach to spiritual care.

From the start, the CPE movement also experienced division. Four major organizations emerged, reflecting competing philosophies. Among them, only one retained the word education in its name, while others used terms like training or institute. These fractures reflected deeper tensions: between formation and credentialing, between theological depth and psychological frameworks, and between collegial inclusivity and institutional authority.

Rethinking “Clinical”: A Word Reinterpreted

The term clinical—from the Greek klinikē, meaning “bedside”—originally described an approach rooted in human presence. But in modern healthcare, clinical has come to signify emotional detachment, analytic neutrality, and non-disclosure. Physicians and therapists are often trained to withhold personal emotion and maintain professional distance.

This semantic shift contrasts sharply with Boisen’s original vision. He and the early CPE pioneers trained chaplains to be emotionally present, spiritually connected, and personally engaged. Emotional availability was not seen as a risk—it was the heart of the work.

Yet today, even within CPE, some supervisors are encouraging a more detached model—urging chaplains not to get “too involved.” While well-intentioned, this approach risks severing the essential bond that chaplaincy offers: empathetic, human connection. Chaplains are often the only healthcare professionals who can say to a patient, “I’ve been there—I’ve lost a child, I’ve felt despair, I understand.” Not to take the spotlight, but to bear witness and offer solidarity.

True chaplaincy honors this sacred identification. To detach emotionally is to risk losing the very soul of spiritual care.

From Pastoral to Spiritual: An Inclusive Evolution

The language of pastoral care made sense in the early 20th century, especially within Christian traditions. The shepherd imagery—rich in biblical and theological meaning—is cherished across Abrahamic faiths. But as chaplaincy grew more diverse, the term pastoral began to feel increasingly exclusive.

Today, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, interspiritual, and secular-humanist communities often do not relate to the term pastoral. Even within Christianity, many are shifting toward the more inclusive term spiritual care. This shift acknowledges that the human search for meaning, connection, and transcendence is not bound to a single tradition.

CPE, too, has evolved. It is no longer a Christian-only training program. It has become a multifaith, intercultural, and even secular space for inner formation and caregiving. At Chaplaincy Pro, we affirm this evolution—and we actively expand it.

A New Chapter: From Clinical and Pastoral to Chaplain and Professional

Because of these historical shifts—and the spiritual needs of our time—Chaplaincy Pro has chosen a new path. It is rooted in Boisen’s legacy, yet adapted for a complex, diverse, and ever-changing 21st-century world.

Anton Boisen was innovative. He lived in the present. And so do we.

At Chaplaincy Pro, we are committed to forming chaplains who live and serve in this world—a world that is both beautiful and broken, deeply spiritual and increasingly non-religious. We believe that spiritual care must evolve in language, practice, and identity to remain meaningful and impactful.

Why the Change?

• From Clinical to Chaplain – to reclaim the relational, emotionally present foundation of our work and avoid associations with emotional detachment.
• From Pastoral to Professional – to acknowledge the broader scope of spiritual care and affirm chaplaincy as a rigorous, accountable profession.
• Retaining Education – because integration, reflection, and formation are still central to the chaplain’s journey.

These changes are not meant to dilute our CPE heritage. Rather, they clarify, empower, and contextualize it. Like water, CPE retains its essence—regardless of the cup it’s held in. Whether in a glass, a bottle, or a clay jar, water is still water. The same is true of Chaplain Professional Education: the soul of CPE endures, even as its form adapts.

Reclaiming the Heart of CPE

We believe in restoring the original heartbeat of CPE—a model that is emotionally wise, spiritually grounded, and ethically courageous.

Let us not reduce CPE to a technical credentialing system. Let us remember Boisen’s vision: to accompany the suffering—not from a distance, but with presence, humility, and courage.

The Chaplaincy Pro Approach: Forming the Chaplains of Tomorrow

Chaplaincy Pro embraces a cutting-edge model that integrates spirituality, theology, behavioral science, anthropology, and social science. Our training is designed for today’s world—a world that is more spiritually curious, less religiously affiliated, and richly diverse in expression.

Chaplain Professional Education is our commitment to holistic, inclusive, and transformative formation. We train chaplains to be not only competent, but compassionate—not only credentialed, but deeply human.

In a time of fragmentation, uncertainty, and spiritual hunger, chaplains are more needed than ever. And we at Chaplaincy Pro are honored to walk with them—into the future, with integrity and faith.