In honor of National Pastoral Care / Spiritual Care Week Oct. 24-30, Penny Driediger was asked to share a reflection about her work as chaplain at Sentara RMH Medical Center.

Her article appeared in an internal newsletter and is shared here with permission. Dreidiger is director of Clinical Pastoral Education at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and an .��

To hear her and four of chaplaincy students share more about their experiences from the summer CPE program, (there is no obligation to join Facebook). EMS chapel services stream each Tuesday at 11 a.m. and an e-chapel reflection is posted each Thursday.

“In light of all the burden on healthcare workers during COVID’s resurgence this fall, our EMS CPE program is providing an important spiritual support service to Virginia hospitals, retirement communities and medical facilities,” said EMS Associate Dean Sarah Bixler. “In some cases, our CPE students provide the only chaplaincy services available; in others, they supplement care offered by existing chaplaincy staff who are often overwhelmed by the needs. This experience, supported by Penny’s expert guidance, is shaping their ministerial formation in profound ways as they practice a ministry of presence during this difficult moment in American history.”

Eastern Mennonite Seminary is unique as one of only eight seminaries in the United States with its own ACPE-accredited CPE program.

On the Chaplain’s Work: by Penny Driediger

CPE is a nationally accredited educational program that trains chaplains and pastors in providing spiritual care to those whom they serve. We have a good partnership and many Chaplain Interns have served at SRMH through our program for 20 years. I have the privilege of walking alongside patients, families, staff and students, promoting healing through spiritual and emotional care as a part of the wonderful care team at SRMH.

My work involves caring for individuals in some of the most distressing and challenging moments of their lives. I am constantly amazed by the resilience, courage and faith that so many exhibit as they face health challenges, pain and loss. I am aware of the importance of connection, of caring – sometimes holding hope for someone when they can’t hope for themselves. I have discovered that joy and sorrow are close companions. Often in the midst of deep sorrow, laughter will make its way to the surface in a way that offers a sense of healing and connection in the midst of the storm.

During the COVID pandemic, my Chaplain role has been challenging. It was very disorienting when we could not visit patients with Covid, knowing the fear and disconnect from loved ones that they were experiencing. We needed to be creative about how to care for patients, family, and staff. Sometimes, my heart has felt broken by the emotional toll that caring has taken on our wonderful staff. When the pandemic began, I felt like I was watching their distress from a distance – unable even to touch them, to give them a hug. Often, we resorted to video chats or phone calls to connect with patients and to connect families to patients. I recall one visit last year, once I was able to enter Covid rooms of those who requested a visit. One local chaplain from a residential home had four different patients in the hospital with Covid. I recall “walking” him around to these patients with a tablet so that they could have a visit with their pastor. Often tears would come as they connected with him and with God through his prayers and care for them. This was sacred work for me.

This past year and a half has touched us all and demanded so much, impacting every aspect of our personal and professional lives. As a chaplain whose role it is to listen and to provide space for another’s story, I have witnessed incredible resilience and courage from those on the front line of this pandemic. Not all experiences are equal; some seem to fare better than others. But there has been wounding, disorientation, sorrow, anger, fear. And there has been hope, love, patient compassion which shines through despite the challenges. I bear witness to their stories, to their distress, to their fortitude to carry on…because they have made a commitment to do so.

Last year during some of the worst days of the pandemic, I wrote a reflection after a visit with a patient. I’m including it here to share a glimpse into the unique role that chaplains play and express gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Sentara RMH community.

The man sat in a chair in the corner as I entered the room. I was covered from head to toe, double masked with N-95, goggles, hairnet, protection from him, from the disease he carried in his body and spread through the air with his labored breathing.

Communication was a barrier as he struggled to hear me – unable to see the articulation of my words.

He seemed vulnerable and scared – I had heard this to be true from others – fear for himself and his wife who he believed was dying. How do I meet him? How do I touch his pain without increasing his feelings of despair and isolation?

The feelings were there: fear, pain, anger, grief. The lived experience was there: isolation, sickness, O2 stats dropping, separated from his loved one. Uncertainty that so many with this disease face – will I get better, or will I die with this disease – never able to physically be with my family again?

Chaplain before him—representing God? Hope?

The question that he had lived with for his lifetime took shape. “Why does God allow such horrible things to happen? Over and over – different articulations of the same question – his eyes often pleading with me. And I felt hammered by his words – by his crisis that touched so closely to my own questions, my own unknowing. Between despair and a longing for a God who loves, who cares, who has compassion, who heals. No words, no words.

I sat uncomfortably with him – trying to convey compassion, hearing his lament, anger, questions. I joined him, “I don’t know.” He searched me with his eyes. Finally, he quieted down with a heavy sigh. He asked me what I hold onto – looking for an anchor. I shared brief glimpses because he couldn’t understand everything I said. Of the God I believe in, that I have held to in my own times of despair. The suffering God who also cried out, “God, why have you forsaken me?” The man lowered his eyes and said, “I can’t be forgiven.” I said, “As far as the east is from the west,” God removes our sins from us. I offered grace – in my presence, through being a witness to his questions, his grief. I suggested that he could talk to God, as if God were a friend.

He quieted and again looked pleadingly into my eyes – the only part of me that he could see. “What do I do, he inquired?” I sensed his openness and desire for a connection with this gracious God. I offered; Can I pray for you?” He heartily said, yes! In my prayer, I declared him a loved child of God. I prayed, grace, forgiveness over his life. I prayed for a balm for his broken spirit. I prayed for his loved one whom he could not touch. When I finished, he said, “When do I pray?” I said, how about now? We connected, holding hands. He squeezed tightly. And he talked to God like a friend.

Register here.

The series is an outgrowth of an April 1 online gathering that drew 32 pastors, including 22 alumni, representing Mennonite Church USA, the Church of the Brethren, Presbyterian Church USA and United Methodist Church. 

The first session on April 15 focused on pastoral care and included a facilitated discussion on grief/loss without physical presence, caring for others from a distance, and caring for ourselves

April 29: Spiritual formation for pastoral resilience

• Signs of pastoral fatigue, spiritual practices to sustain the pastor

May 13: Understanding trauma and secondary trauma

• Supporting front-line responders and recognizing secondary trauma

May 27: Theological questions during anxious times

• Support for navigating theological issues associated with the pandemic

June 10: Ethical issues of medical care

• Issues of access, justice and understanding the medical system during the pandemic

June 24: Biblical resources for despair and hope

• Biblical literature that gives voice to human despair and theologically responsible use of scripture for hope in life and death

Facilitators are drawn from seminary professors, clinical pastoral education staff and the seminary’s large group of alumni working in ministry.

Like the parable of the loaves and fishes, one pastor’s visionary donation more than 20 years ago and his family’s ongoing support to the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program at Eastern Mennonite Seminary has generated exponential blessings. 

If each one of the nearly 300 students who has taken CPE has ministered to at least 100 people, that makes for at least 30,000 who have been blessed by their gift, estimated Lonnie Yoder, professor of pastoral care and counseling. “The gift of the Yutzy family has impacted lives far beyond what we can imagine.”

Last week’s evening banquet, held during the seminary’s annual School for Leadership Training, brought together celebrants of the program’s 20-year anniversary. Among the audience were CPE alumni, seminary faculty and program advisory council members, EMU cabinet members and trustees.

The honored guests were the family of Lena and Norman Yutzy ’55, SEM ‘58, who provided the $1 million CPE program endowment: daughter Lenora Yutzy Bell ‘79 and husband Rick, daughter Charlene Yutzy Jacob ‘88, son David Yutzy ‘82 and wife Jewel; and grandson Ben Yutzy ‘06, with wife Risa Heatwole Yutzy and their two children.

Program focused on ministering to people in crisis

CPE is “interfaith professional education for ministry” that brings “theological students and ministers into supervised encounter with people in crisis,” according to the Association of Clinical Pastoral Education. The curricula integrates practice, reflection and analysis, and a foundation of knowledge around theories of behavioral science. 

Guest speaker Sara Wenger Shenk, who was the seminary’s interim dean when the program began and is now president emeritus of Anabaptist Biblical Mennonite Seminary, described “the practice of CPE and pastoral formation as “learning to be human, learning to be at home in our own bodies, histories, families, limitations and strengths, learning both what it means to flourish as embodied mortal human beings and flourish to as spiritual beings.”

CPE practices, she said, “help to move pastors on the long arduous journey to becoming comfortable in our own skin, to find a place of deep calm in the midst of crisis, to stay calm when panic threatens everyone in the room … learning to stay grounded in that non-anxious place, to trust and not be afraid as we weather crisis, deaths, serious events, profound regrets … learning the remarkable beauty and  harmony of all we’ve learned of christ’s love and pain.”

A gift in thanks for his own learning

A native of Plain City, Ohio, Norman Yutzy attended school through the 10th grade, then earned his GED and continued to feed his appetite for knowledge at then Eastern Mennonite College, where he eventually earned three degrees: a BA degree (1955), a bachelor of theology degree (1958) and finally, at the seminary, a bachelor of divinity degree (1961). While at EMC, he met and married Lena Beachy (the couple were engaged during an evangelizing tour in Europe).

His first encounter with CPE was while earning a master’s degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, and he regarded that experience as profoundly beneficial for his life and ministry. Yutzy would go on to careers in teaching and the ministry: he taught Bible at EMC and Eastern Mennonite High School during the late 50s and early 60s, and held pastorates at churches in Illinois Pennsylvania and Virginia. After beginning a career as a successful dairy and poultry farmer, he pastored on an interim basis and continued to preach on request.

In 1993, Yutzy first met with seminary administration to share his idea of beginning a CPE program.* Ever thankful for his own CPE experience, “he desired others to receive that gift for use in their ministries,” recalled son Dave Yutzy. Endowing such a program at the seminary was a way that he and Lena could contribute towards “supporting ministries that blessed others’ lives and furthered the work of God’s Kingdom.”

Norman Yutzy’s idea was truly visionary: he hoped the CPE curricula and experiential learning would be a requisite for graduation. Basing the program at an institution of higher learning, instead of at medical facilities or psychiatric hospitals, would help to integrate the CPE curricula, mentorship and experiential learning model that Yutzy found so valuable to his own pastoral formation into the formal education of seminarians.

By 1999, when six students enrolled, EMS was only the third seminary in the United States to host CPE (it was initially a Satellite Center under the UVa Health System’s Department of Chaplaincy Services). Later that year, Kenton Derstine became the program’s first (and until recently, only) director.

Recognition of first director’s leadership

At the banquet, Derstine recalled his own personal connection to Norman Yutzy, who was his pastor at Souderton Mennonite Church in Pennsylvania. “I was a teenager then and he would often stop to purchase milk at our farm and get into lengthy conversations with my father about church matters … Even now, I still marvel at the mystery of how our paths would cross later.”

The evening included recognition of Derstine’s long contributions to the program and his “strong and visionary leadership,” Yoder said. Under his guidance, the program is now accredited to offer units of Level I and II and Supervisory CPE. Initially EMS developed relationships with Rockingham Memorial Hospital (now Sentara RMH) and the Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community (VMRC) for clinical placements. Opportunities have expanded to Sunnyside Presbyterian Retirement Community and the Bridgewater Retirement Community.

New director Penny Driediger, who has been serving as a clinical educator since 2010, is also a staff chaplain at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. 

On the occasion of the program’s 20th anniversary, Derstine has been able to reconnect with many past students. “It has been gratifying to learn how so many alumni have gone on to serve as transformative ministers and leaders in a wide variety of ministry contexts, noting the value of their CPE experience for their life and ministry,” he said. “In sum, I think it remarkable how one person’s transformative experience in CPE birthed a vision to multiply that experience for others, generating a vision and resources that when joined to that of  others has produced this powerful legacy.”

*CPE had been offered at the seminary before. An extended unit of CPE was offered for more than 10 years from EMU Lancaster, with internship settings at Landis Homes in Lititz, Pa., and Garden Spot Village, in New Holland, Pa.

Additionally, from the Harrisonburg campus, from 1980-83, Will Agee (based at Western State Hospital in Staunton) supervised three units of CPE at Rockingham Memorial Hospital for EMS students and others. This involved 23 interns over the three-year period.

We’ve invited a series of guest writers to share about how CPE training has shaped their life and ministry. Join us at a celebration during the January 2020 School for Leadership Training. To learn more, visit /seminary/slt/

Lorrie Aikens MDiv ‘18, pastor of the Bath United Methodist Charge, offers reflections below.

Also enjoy posts by our guest authors Anne Kauffman Weaver,��Melanie K. Lewis, Shawn Gerber, Lisa Meyer Vineyard and Phil Kanagy.

One person lay on the ground crying out in pain with irregular breathing outside a hospital. The professionals gathered around to help in the best way possible. Every dynamic of a person’s being was carefully attended to: the physical, emotional, and spiritual. Standing to the side, the cries of pain pierced my heart. The pain of my brother’s recent death surfaced full throttle. Eyes closed, my pleas for God’s mercy and quick release from the afflictions riddling within this person before me poured out from my heart, “Lord, hear this person’s cries!” I was overcome with sorrow and became planted to the spot where I prayed.

I celebrate Clinical Pastoral Education at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in the ongoing spiritual journey even in this moment as I return to the practice of reflective processing over and over again as a pastor of four United Methodist churches on the Bath Charge in Hot Springs, Virginia.��As a process theologian, evaluation of situations such as the one I encountered early in CPE as a hospital chaplain intern became an important part of being a more effective pastor. Asking myself questions to determine symptoms of anxiety, feelings in the midst of the experience, my thoughts and behaviors during and following the event, and assessing my reaction in terms of fruits of the Spirit, Christian principles, differentiation of self and any other values that are important to me determined guiding principles by which to respond, not react, in the future. Continual new learnings using the Bowen Family Systems Theory surfaced throughout the entire process of CPE in a safe and reflective environment that invited personal conversation with the advisor, Kenton Derstine, and my peers and fellow compatriots.��

 I will always be grateful for the reflective process that lead to my understanding of how I respond to the pain of others. Through the pain of the patient crying out on the ground outside the hospital and reflection on the functioning of my family of origin, I discovered how my family buries such pain and never really discussed it in the past with the loss of my baby sister or in the recent death of my brother who suffered tremendously. This was making personal processing of loss and pain extremely difficult. The key to my reflections could be found in exploring the behaviors of my family of origin with the guidance of the Holy Spirit resulting in fruitful conversations with my parents and remaining brother. In each conversation, the opportunity arose for self-differentiation. That is, as Bowen describes to listen and respond, not react, to the thoughts and ideas shared by other members of the family (or group) even when the ideas of others are different from your own. This was extremely important in understanding myself and how I relate to others. 

Thus, understanding self and applying Bowen’s Theory in the context and setting of ministry with a myriad of personalities and life experiences can bear spiritual fruit for the kingdom of God. CPE helped me to relate to the challenge of loss within each congregation where many have experienced serious illness and loss of loved ones. Such loss affects the family personally as well as the congregation wherein the member abides and actually, the whole community for it is small with just a little under 5,000 people throughout the county. Through CPE and specifically my personal goal, “to become more effective in my care of family members processing grief,” I became better equipped to walk with families in their grief. To do so means to honor what God created within me for the glory of God’s kingdom in such a way that honors others and encourages others to receive God’s love and love others as well. 

The gift of the Clinical Pastoral Education is invaluable and an ongoing work. The God-given gifts of the instructor/advisors are apparent. They live the principles that guide who they are in Christ, model the Bowen theory in ways that enlighten and guide participants, and are able to differentiate self throughout the journey of clinical care. My deepest gratitude to each of you.. Blessings to all! 

Lorrie Aikens has served the Bath Charge in Hot Springs, Virginia, for the past eight years, and spent a year before that with the Cokesbury Charge in Front Royal, Virginia. She came to the ministry after 24 years of teaching (21 in the Clarke County Public Schools) and five years in social services. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2018, and also holds an MS in Education from Shenandoah University and a BS in elementary education from the University of Maine at Farmington. She and husband Bradley Aikens have been married 41 years, with three adult children and 10 grandchildren. God was calling and preparing me for ministry from the time I was born,” she says. “Life has been a mission and ministry wherever I lived.”

We’ve invited a series of guest writers to share about how CPE training has shaped their life and ministry. Join us at a celebration during the January 2020 School for Leadership Training. To learn more, visit /seminary/cpe/anniversary

Lisa Meyer Vineyard offers reflections below. Also enjoy posts by our guest authors Anne Kauffman Weaver, Melanie K. Lewis and Shawn Gerber.

After serving as a Carilion Clinic staff chaplain for 20 years, I took my third and fourth units of CPE at Eastern Mennonite Seminary. I completed the Advanced Leadership seminar in May 2019. Participating in these EMS classes gave me a place to reflect upon my work and life in new ways. 

Kenton and Penny created a safe place to do family systems thinking and practical reflection. I explored my family patterns of interacting with others such as my issues of over-functioning, perusing others and feeling as if I had to fix other people’s problems while learning with some amazing classmates. Penny, Kenton and my classmates invited me to become a more thoughtful chaplain and person. They encouraged me to develop my curiosity and breathing techniques in order to be more present with my patients, the staff, family and friends. I was surprised at how anxiety producing CPE was. Reflecting upon my life in new ways caused me great anxiety at times. I am grateful for the growth that resulted.

As I began working on my own family patterns of interaction through generations, I saw how I brought these patterns to my daily life at work, church and home. I spent more hours than I would ever like to admit reflecting upon how I work with others and how I wanted them to act in a certain way. When they did not change, I realized I had to change. This was not easy but through the classroom work, readings, writing, verbatims, presentations and supervision, I had a safe place to explore myself and my behaviors. CPE, for me, was an experience of grace and encouragement. 

I loved coming to class because I was challenged to grow and become a better person. — not by being beaten over the head but encouraged to look deep within to find the beauty and grace of God within. I didn’t have to be 100% better, just 2%. I could manage 2%.

One of the beautiful gifts of CPE is that I have a better relationship with my siblings. As the third child, I left my home town when I was 20. I have struggled to reconnect with my brother and sister for years. CPE helped me to have the courage to reach out on a consistent basis. When I really wanted to judge my brother’s behaviors, I had a place to look at my own reactions and then be more present with him. I was able to listen, be curious and supportive as he struggled and eventually found happiness in life. I could be with my brother, support him in his life and not need to fix him. He was fine.

I found that I listened and engaged my sister who chose a very different path than me. I would call, giving her space to vent about her life as a mom and business woman. Now she reaches out to talk about her life as well as listens to mine. We have even set up a group text, a small action but a positive changechang to how we communicate and share about real-life experiences. As my parents age, we are becoming a unit to help them in the ways each of us can. It is a wonderful, unexpected gift that CPE gave me. 

In conclusion, participating in CPE and the Advancing My Leadership Seminar at EMS gave me the opportunity to do my own family system work, opening me to my family patterns and the capacity to change how I interact with others and self.  For this, I am grateful.

The Rev. Lisa Meyer Vineyard was born and raised in southern Illinois as the third child of Wendell and Elizabeth Meyer. She grew up in Belleville where she loved to participate in her local church community and ride her bike across town or along cornfields in the country.  

She graduated from the local community college and then went onto Southern Illinois University at Carbondale to earn a BA in sociology and women’s studies.  After college, she spent three years as a head resident and campus ministry associate at Earlham College, a Quaker college in Richmond, Indiana.  

She graduated from Eden Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1992. During seminary, she spent almost a year in Botswana as a theological education student. She was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1995. After seminary she took several ministerial positions in UCC churches in Illinois and Omaha, Nebraska.

When she came to Roanoke in 1996, Lisa worked part-time as a hospital chaplain at Carilion Clinic and part-time as the director for the Pastoral Counseling Center for three years. Since January 2000, she has served full-time as a chaplain working with people living with HIV/AID, oncology, palliative care and heart patients and their families.  After completing her final two units of CPE at Eastern Mennonite Seminary in 2018, Lisa became a Board Certified Chaplain. Lisa became a Reiki Master in 2016 and now teaches Reiki I and II through Carilion Chaplaincy Services.

Lisa enjoys sharing with others, listening to stories of their life, quilting, biking, reading and being with her beloved husband, Frank Vineyard. They met at a dog park and now have three retrievers they enjoy caring for and taking walks with as often as possible. 

We’ve invited a series of guest writers to share about how CPE training has shaped their life and ministry. Join us at a celebration during the January 2020 School for Leadership Training. To learn more, visit /seminary/cpe/anniversary

Read other posts is our series by Anne Kaufman Weaver MDiv ’16 and Melanie Lewis MDiv ’14.

Shawn Gerber is the director of spiritual care and chaplaincy services at Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital and the chaplain manager for the south central region of Indiana University Health.

I have been challenged, and honestly am still challenged, with wondering why if God is good, and all powerful, and all knowing, do we experience such pain and suffering in life. I think it has something to do with the flow of authentic relationship between God and humanity but it remains a mystery to me.  Little did I know when I signed up to take my first unit of CPE at EMS that wrestling with these issues in community would be an experience that would shape who I am called to be in ministry and set the trajectory for how I would serve.

I took my first unit of CPE at EMS seven years before I lost my mother to cancer. What I learned in CPE helped prepare my heart to face the pain rather than deny it or turn away, because I have learned that when I love deeply, I can get hurt deeply. I am called to love anyway. Paying attention to the movements of my own heart and the movement of the Holy Spirit in my own life has helped inform the ways I walk with others in their journey of loss and grief. 

A unique gift of CPE is integrating the behavioral sciences with our theology. During my internship at EMS through the supervision of Kenton Derstine, I came in contact with the rich insight and wisdom that comes from Family Systems Theory. In applying the theory to my life, I learned how the streams of emotional processes and themes in my family of origin has informed who I am as a person and a minister. The care of my grandmother who would listen to people at her kitchen table lives on in me as I listen and offer care to patients at the bedside. This gave new meaning to my understanding of how we are “surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses” as it says in chapter 12 of Hebrews. Applying the theory to my practice, I learned that as we care for the family or loved ones of a patient or person in the clinic or congregation, we care for the person.

My clinical placement during my CPE unit was at Rockingham Memorial Hospital. Offering spiritual care to patients there helped me discover the passion of my ministry to live out Jesus’ call to “love one another as I have loved you.” I learned how to meet people where they are at in their spiritual journeys whether it is one who is devout in their religion, or one who is seeking faith and meaning, or even an atheist. It has been deeply meaningful for me to see the way that God is made known when I am present to another person, compassionately listen to their story and facilitate how they find meaning in their journey. In these encounters, I have witnessed the beauty of the resiliency of the human spirit, the healing power of love in faith communities, and that there is a Source of Love that connects us as humans seeking meaning, purpose and connectedness in our life. I feel this is an experience and skill that is sorely needed in our world that has become so polarized in a number of ways.

My hope, dream, and vision for CPE at EMS is that it would continue to form women and men in the discipline and practice of deeply listening, offering a compassionate presence, and being attuned to the movement of the Spirit in the human encounter so that people might find healing and hope in wellness and suffering, and be amazed at the way God shows up and builds bridges between people of different faiths and walks of life.

Shawn Gerber is the director of spiritual care and chaplaincy services at Indiana University Health Bloomington Hospital and the chaplain manager for the south central region of Indiana University Health. He earned an MDiv with a concentration in pastoral counseling at Eastern Mennonite Seminary and a BA in Bible and religion with a psychology minor at Goshen College. He completed a fellowship in clinical ethics with the Fairbanks Center for Medical Ethics at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. He is a trained facilitator in critical incident stress management. 

As an ordained minister with the Mennonite Church USA and a Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, he has served for over 17 years in ministry. Among other roles, he served as a Chaplain Fellow and completed a chaplain residency at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia; pastored Mennonite churches in Colorado and Virginia; and been a chaplain manager at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center in Denver, Colorado and at Goshen General Hospital in Goshen, Indiana.

Shawn and his wife Rachel have three sons, Owen, Connor, and Zachary. Outside of his time at work, he enjoys spending time with his family and friends, playing sports, camping and hiking, and traveling. 

We’ve invited a series of guest writers to share about how CPE training has shaped their life and ministry. Join us at a celebration during the January 2020 School for Leadership Training. To learn more, visit /seminary/slt/

Read reflections by Anne Weaver and Shawn Gerber.

***

Melanie K. Lewis MDiv ‘14  is lead chaplain for Valley Health System’s six hospitals. 

Eastern Mennonite’s CPE program changed the trajectory of my career aspirations, entirely. I began seminary as a postulant for ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. Congregational ministry was where I saw myself, and that call had been affirmed by my sending parish and by my denomination.

 A summer unit of CPE, which I did between the first and second years of seminary, is required for ordination in my denomination. Like many Episcopal seminarians, I initially saw this as a requirement to “get through,” and one that wouldn’t have much to do with my ministry. I was like many people going into the training, in that I didn’t understand that CPE is not just concerned with learning to function in a clinical environment. I didn’t realize that it would be learning about myself and how God was connecting me to other people. I did my clinical rotations in a level II trauma center, and experienced a summer of trauma, crisis and death. I remember telling my husband at the end of that summer, “Being a hospital chaplain is amazing work, but I could never do it. It’s just too hard.”

Over time, however, I realized that God was calling me to this “too hard” ministry. Initially I resisted it, because people’s emotions affect me greatly; I couldn’t imagine putting myself in the way of peoples’ crises on a regular basis. I also didn’t appreciate so many of the hard questions that we had to ask ourselves through the training; after all, it’s not usually easy to see one’s faults. CPE was extremely humbling for me. I did take more units of CPE as I finished my Master of Divinity, however, eventually completing four.

Over time, I learned to know myself in ways that I would never have been able to do otherwise – to see my own neediness and anxiety and to recognize my various emotional triggers. In knowing these things, I was better able to to put them aside, and focus on the person/s in front of me, and to honor their needs. I also learned self-care that enabled me to be resilient, and God made me stronger through the many events that I experienced. CPE equipped me for the ministry of meeting people where they are in traumatic or critical situations, and walking with them, supporting them emotionally and spiritually, and sitting with them in their pain.

Today I am the lead chaplain of a six-hospital system. I simply would not be qualified for this job without my CPE training. I divide my time between my leadership and training duties, and supporting patients, families, and staff – mostly in the four Intensive Care Units of our main trauma center. Much of my pastoral care time is spent doing things like supporting those who have made the hard decision to remove life support from a loved one, or who have lost someone in a trauma.

 I am more grateful to Kenton and Penny than I can express. Their patience, insight and wisdom has challenged me in ways that helped me to grow in completely unexpected ways. As they move the program into its next 20 years, I have two hopes for CPE: that it can continue to grow, and that it can become more affordable. I would also recommend that at least half a unit be required for the Master of Divinity degree. Everyone engaged in ministry (or any work at all!) would benefit from the training provided through CPE.

Melanie Lewis was born in Germany to American parents. She and her younger brother grew up all over the U.S. and Europe, traveling as a result of their father’s Air Force career. The Lutheran Church was her foundational community; she was baptized at the family church in Norway, confirmed in Worms, and grew up serving her church in every way she could. 

As an undergraduate, she attended Sewanee: The University of the South, and was exposed to the Episcopal Church. As a result of that influence, she fell in love with the Episcopal Church, and became Episcopalian after her marriage to her husband Richard. Before experiencing a mid-life call to ministry, Melanie had an academic career, teaching comparative literature and medieval studies, and serving in university leadership. She graduated from EMS in 2014. In addition to her lead chaplaincy position for Valley Health System’s six hospitals, she also serves Christ Episcopal Church in Millwood, Virginia, where she preaches once a month. Melanie and Richard have a grown son and daughter, and live in Winchester, Virginia.

We’ve invited a series of guest writers to share about how CPE training has shaped their life and ministry. Join us at a celebration during the January 2020 School for Leadership Training. To learn more, visit /seminary/cpe/anniversary

Read reflections by Melanie Lewis and Shawn Gerber.

***

Guest blogger Anne Kaufman Weaver MDiv ’16 has been employed as a chaplain at Landis Homes since March 2016.

Most CPE training centers occur within hospitals during an intense yearlong residency. That model did not suit my schedule or priorities. I wanted to develop my chaplaincy practice in a setting where I could cultivate longer term relationships. I completed four units of CPE at Landis Homes Retirement Community in Lititz, Pennsylvania, one extended unit at time. This slower approach allowed me to deepen my practice and strengthen relationships with residents, families, and staff. It also allowed me to take seminary courses at the same time as a unit of CPE. 

The books, movies, Bowen Family Systems conferences in Washington D.C., process reflections, verbatims, Clearness Committee and papers each contributed greatly to my stash of information and formation. During my final unit of CPE, I became an employee in the Pastoral Services Department at Landis Homes.  It felt like a win-win situation as we knew each other well after several years of interning. 

During each unit of CPE, I developed personal goals. I delved into Family Systems Theory within my own nuclear and extended families. Genogram mapping and story gathering opened my eyes to patterns and the impact of events. I took more initiative to connect with family members in healthier ways. I particularly learned to pay attention to who I am as a person and deliberately care for my own needs.  I also developed goals related to my work among older adults. I received training through the International End of Life Doula Association that shaped the way I walk alongside people who are dying. Assisting residents and families to find meaning and connection in the final months and weeks of life is gratifying and healing.

I continue to integrate what I learned in CPE into my chaplaincy practice at Landis Homes. I pay attention to dynamics such as “Triangles” when I hear a staff person voice a concern. How can I temporarily support this person so that she can go directly to her co-worker? I look for the “Togetherness-Individualness” continuum in the family as a loved one is dying. In what way can I encourage them to come to a healthy place of letting go or being present? I monitor whether I am over-functioning or under-functioning when a resident adjusts to a higher level of care. What resources does this person and his/her family contain to adjust to the new surrounding?

I dream of EMS providing extended CPE units for pastors, lay leaders and seminary students in their own local contexts.  Not all interested individuals can move to Virginia for seminary or CPE. With advances in technology and networks of community-based services, I hope that anyone who wants to take a unit of CPE while engaged in current responsibilities will be able to do so.  I am profoundly grateful for Kenton Derstine’s supervision as well as everything that I learned from my fellow students.

Anne Kaufman Weaver, a chaplain at Landis Homes, completed her Master of Divinity degree from Eastern Mennonite Seminary in May 2016.  She also has a Master of Social Work degree from Marywood University. Anne was ordained in 2017 by Atlantic Coast Conference. Previously she obtained life coach training through International Coach Federation and enjoyed her practice, Coaching Connection, from 2006-2016. She served on the boards of Bridge of Hope BuxMont, Lancaster Mennonite School and ��ݮ����.

The following appointments are announced by Fred Kniss, provost; David Brubaker, dean of the School of Social Sciences and Professions; Sue Cockley, dean of the School of Theology, Humanities, and Performing Arts; and Tara Kishbaugh, dean of the School of Sciences, Engineering, Art, and Nursing. 

Benjamin Bergey, assistant professor of music

Bergey earned his Doctor of Music Arts and Master of Music degrees from James Madison University with a concentration in orchestral conducting, literature and pedagogy. He is a graduate of EMU with a degree in church music and vocal performance. Bergey is currently music director of the Rapidan Community Orchestra and director of music at Harrisonburg Mennonite Church. He was assistant conductor of orchestras at James Madison University from 2013-18 and has performed with several orchestras. He brings experience in arts administration and marketing as well, including roles as founder and director of Harrisonburg Sacred Arts and as the music editor of the forthcoming bi-national hymnal Voices Together, for Mennonite Church USA.

Sarah Bixler, instructor, Eastern Mennonite Seminary 

Bixler is completing her PhD in practical theology with an emphasis on Christian education and formation at Princeton Theological Seminary, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2021. At the seminary, where she also earned a Master of Divinity degree, she has worked in administrative roles with Princeton’s Center for Church Planting and Revitalization and Iron Sharpening Iron: Leadership Education for Women Clergy project. She has more than a decade of ministry and teaching experience at Eastern Mennonite Middle School, Zion Mennonite Church (Broadway, VA) and Virginia Mennonite Conference.

Bixler earned her MDiv at Princeton Theological Seminary and her BA in English (secondary education) at EMU.

Bethany Detamore, instructor of nursing 

Detamore has worked as an RN and case manager in outpatient surgery and in medical-surgical nursing. She has a BSN from West Virginia Wesleyan University and an MSN from Western Governors University.  

Penny Driediger, assistant professor of practice, Eastern Mennonite Seminary

Driedeger has taught clinical pastoral education and served as director of mentored ministry. She has a B.A. in Social Work from ��ݮ���� and an M. Div. from Eastern Mennonite Seminary with a concentration in Pastoral Care. She is ordained for ministry with Virginia Mennonite Conference and most recently she has received Supervisor status through the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. She has also been a staff chaplain at  Sentara RMH and served for 20 years in urban ministry in Hamilton, Ontario.

Beth Good, assistant professor and director of intercultural programs

Good will teach in and also provide leadership to EMU’s intercultural programs, including the undergraduate crosscultural program and off-campus cross-cultural curricular components.  She’ll also teach undergraduate cross-cultural courses. She most recently served as Kenya Country Representative for Mennonite Central Committee, with her husband. Previous professional experiences include living and working in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, serving as MCC’s global health coordinator, working as director of clinical services of Hope within Community Health Center, serving as the HIV program coordinator for Eastern Mennonite Missions, and teaching classes for EMU’s RN-BS in program. She holds master’s and doctoral degrees in nursing from Widener University. Her BSN is from EMU.

Wendell Shank, instructor, language and literature

Shank holds a MEd from James Madison University and a master’s degree in teaching Spanish as a foreign language from the University of Salamanca. He earned his BA in English literature and Spanish at EMU. He has taught at JMU and Eastern Mennonite High School and worked in support services and as a home school liaison for Harrisonburg City Schools. Shank also has experience with interpretation in the medical and social services fields, as well as in mediation.

Angela Spotts, instructor, health and physical education

Spotts earned an MS in cardiac rehabilitation and exercise science from East Stroudsburg University and a BS in health science from Bridgewater College. In addition to teaching experience, she was worked as an exercise physiologist in cardiac rehabilitation and clinical settings. 

Matt Tibbles, instructor, applied social sciences

Tibbles brings a broad background in juvenile justice, youth and family services to his teaching role. He earned a BA in youth and family ministry from Harding University and an MA in conflict transformation from EMU. He has worked as a minister, auditor, juvenile justice transition officer and as a nonviolence trainer in Washington state, Texas and Alaska. Tibbles co-taught several courses as a graduate assistant while studying in EMU’s MA program.

Lela Faye Yoder, instructor, nursing

Yoder has more than 20 years experience in the nursing profession. She has an MSN degree from the University of Toledo and a BNS from EMU. Yoder has worked in a variety of hospital settings, including as a staff and charge nurse in cardiac care, orthopedic-surgical and peri-operative departments. She has also worked in family practice.