Pastors Grow Through CPE Program

Story by Evan Knott

Chesapeake Conference is now in its third year of offering Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), a program designed to help pastors grow in emotional intelligence, spiritual awareness and relational effectiveness. So far, 18 pastors have completed at least one unit of CPE, with the conference offering up to four units for those who want to go deeper.

The program is tailored to the needs of Chesapeake churches and communities. It combines classroom learning with real-world ministry, requiring participants to complete hundreds of hours of supervised visits and case studies while receiving one-on-one mentoring and peer feedback. Pastors learn how to listen more deeply, set healthy boundaries and reflect on how their own experiences shape their ministry.

“When pastors engage in leadership self-awareness training through CPE, they begin a transformative journey toward emotional and spiritual intelligence,” says Shelvan Arunan, Chesapeake Conference associate Ministerial director and CPE supervisor. “They become not only healthier pastors, but also more present parents, loving spouses and trusted spiritual leaders. This kind of growth is not just professional; it’s deeply personal and profoundly spiritual.”

CPE is now part of the conference’s training track for ministerial interns preparing for ordination or commissioning.