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Clinical Pastoral Education

My name is Kumar Dixit, and I am an ordained minister. I have been a pastor of some large, ethnically diverse congregations in the United States and Canada. I have also served as a University Chaplain, radio chaplain, hospital, and hospice chaplain. 

 

I have been the Ministerial Director (the pastor’s pastor) in British Columbia, Canada. In addition, I have been the director of the bereavement in hospice. Currently, I am an administrator for Palliative Medicine in Maryland. I also have taught courses in religion, theology, ethics, world religions, marketing in the University setting. I currently teach for John’s Hopkins School of Osher for Lifelong Learning.

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My education includes a Master's degree in Religion, a doctor of ministry from Wesley Theological Seminary (D.C.). I am a board-certified pastoral counselor and board-certified clinical chaplain. 

A new unit will begin January 16, 2024 from 6pm-10pm EST.

 

Note:  There is a required orientation for new cohorts on January 9  from 6-8 pm EST.  

 

The class will continue once a week, for 17 consecutive weeks, ending on May 7.  Please keep May 14 available, in case we need an extra catch up session.   

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Next Cohort Details

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Thanks for your interest in Clinical Pastoral Education! The best way to explain the process and the program is by responding to a Frequently Asked Questions format. I hope everything is clear below, and it will give you the needed information to make a good decision. Feel free to email me at conciergeminister@gmail.com if you have any more questions or want to set up a 15-minute zoom meeting to explain anything else better.  

 

Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is CPE? 

Clinical Pastoral Education is a specialty to pastoral ministry. Most candidates have been trained to be pastors – to promote ecclesiology and evangelism, among other disciplines. Chaplaincy is unique because it doesn’t have a plan, like converting someone or disciple them into their deeper faith. Rather, the CPE program helps you discover more about yourself to serve people better, wherever they are on their journey.

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What is an SIT program? I am currently a supervisor in training, under the authority and guidance of Dr. Deborah Digel, diplomate in CPSP. I will be facilitating the CPE program independently. However, I will be checking with her weekly and recording all of our classes for review.  

 

How will CPE help my current ministry? Clinical pastoral education is a life-changing experience that will prepare you to become a strong counselor. You will also discover the critical theory and practical elements that will sharpen your bedside manners and home visits.

 

How can this help me professionally? Upon completing the CPE program, your opportunities will open to professional chaplaincy outside of your denomination. You could serve as a chaplain in a hospital, police department, hospice, airport, and more.  

 

How many weeks is the course? The training is seventeen weeks long, starting January 16, 2022, from 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm EST. You are allowed to skip two sessions for personal reasons (sickness, vacation, professional). If you miss more than two sessions, you may lose the credit tuition and be asked to start over. 

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How much does it cost? The total cost of the CPE unit ranges from $1200 to-1500. However, because I am a supervisor in training, I am allowed to offer the course at a discount of $950 per unit. You can make a full payment, or I will accept payment in three installments.

 

Is this course offered in person or online? Online, via Zoom. Please plan to always have your camera on. A good lighting source (window, ring light) to communicate. 

 

Look for a private, quiet spot to help avoid outside disruptions (kids, barking dogs, etc.) You will not be considered “present” if you are driving, on a field trip, traveling, etc.

 

What are the expectations during the course?

  1. 300 hours – You are required to complete 300 clinical hours - These hours can be completed at your local church, hospital, or other clinical settings. You will be given a form to fill out each week to track your hours and then submit them to me.  

  2. 100 Hours of supervision – You will be expected to have a weekly or bi-weekly meeting supervisory meeting with me. The one hundred hours are included as part of the weekly group meetings.  

  3. 2 Book reviews and presentations – You will be given a list of required reading assignments that should be covered during the four CPE units. You must select two books and then submit a written report and public presentation (in class) on the material you studied.

  4. Didactic presentations – every week, I will cover a didactic on a specific topic to help you grow in your discipline. The purpose is also to understand better the particular needs of persons receiving ministry. This of this is a short lecture, with discussion, to further the conversation.

  5. Autobiography – Every candidate will write and then present their autobiography. This document will help you better understand who you are, discover trends about your life that will shape your spiritual journey, as well as chaplaincy. The autobiography is also a requirement for board certification hence you will rewrite and shape your autobiography in every unit until it is crafted and prepared for certification.  

  6. Case Presentations are also known as the Verbatim. A detailed reporting and evaluation of the practice of ministry will be presented throughout the unit. The case presentation demonstrates your interactions with patients and counselees.

 

If I already have a CPE unit completed from a few years ago, will that count, or do I have to start over? As long as you can prove you completed the CPE unit through a credentialed trainer and show your certificate or final exam document that your supervisor signed, you will be able to keep your credit.  

 

Does the CPE program accepted outside of the United States? Yes, there are chapters in Africa, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. (there are many more countries, but I have listed those from the countries connected with me).

 

After I have completed four units, what is the next step? While you are in your fourth unit, you will be encouraged to join a local chapter of CPSP. Upon completion, you can prepare for board certification as a pastoral counselor or clinical chaplain – becoming nationally recognized.  

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Can I have taken more than four units of CPE? Yes. Some people are known to earn multiple units to grow in their field.  

 

What’s next? How do I get started? 

  • Fill out the application.

  • Pay $100 non-refundable application fee (Venmo, CashApp, Zelle, or Paypal)

  • Schedule a 30 minute zoom interview with me

  • Upon admittance into the program, you will receive the syllabus and book list. You will also receive a learning contract with a financial agreement.  

 

Become acquainted with the national organization CPSP and other resources.

Click here to learn more

What People are Saying 

When we hired Kumar to join our pastoral team in the British Columbia Conference I knew immediately that we had hired an incredibly gifted pastor and leader. An individual who would in time not only be a blessing to the church family to which he was assigned but also to his fellow colleagues throughout the province of British Columbia. What I greatly appreciated about Kumar was that he possessed an attitude of a learner. He never came across as a no-it-all even though he definitely is an incredibly bright and well learned leader as well as an excellent preacher. His humble approach to ministry made him accessible to everyone and created in his church a climate of acceptance regardless of where you were in your walk with God.  When he accepted the position of Ministerial Director it was with the condition that he would continue with his pastoral responsibilities as he felt as a practitioner he would be more effective when coaching and training pastoral interns which indeed proved to be the case. When Kumar accepted an opportunity in the USA we lost a highly gifted pastor, coach, and trainer for not only our interns but for our entire pastoral team.

Wayne Culmore, British Columbia Conference President, retired

 I’ve known Kumar for almost two decades as a colleague on staff as we worked at the same local congregation, as his client as he designed resources for pastors, and as part of his denominational support system as he supervised a large team of pastors. I highly recommend Kumar for supervisor training for CPE. He is extremely gifted in this area, and I’ve personally observed his skill set innumerable times. What I find outstanding is that he has done the hard work of knowing himself so he can minister to others. Dave Gemmell, D.Min, Associate Ministerial Director, North American Division, retired. 

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Dr. Dixit gives a fresh perspective on today's most challenging issues.  He journeys with you through triumph or tears and he does so with a delicate blend of humor, love, respect, spiritual authenticity, compassion, and humility.   Brian Wright, hospice chaplain 
 

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