Convention Tackles Role of Pastoral Care Outside Church

This year’s Convention on Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) hosted October 22 to 24 by the Divinity School focused on the role of pastors in other venues where faith-nurture, love and care are equally needed.

The convention theme, “Prophetic Voice in Pastoral Education”, guided discussions on the important aspects of clinical pastoral education practice not only in churches, but also in hospitals, asylums and orphanages.

Practicing doctor Dr. Maria Salud F. Kho focused on the medical aspect, highlight how pastoral care among medical practitioners is “care in a preventive way”. Bishop Ermie R. Camba of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines (UCCP) reflected on socio-political conditions, and emphasized how pastoral care delivers a message of hope amidst the challenges that confront us as a people, among them is corruption. From the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Cris Mendez shared his experience in empowering communities through a project he administers in the neighboring island of Cebu, stressing on the transformational value of pastoral care.

Also invited as resource persons were Rev. Jonathan R. Pia, Administrative Pastor of the Silliman University Church, Mr. Nigel P. Galve from the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and Rev. Esther Gelloagan, UCCP minister from Cebu City and a certified as CPE Supervisor.

Spearheading the convention was the Clinical Pastoral Education and Practice, Inc.