The CME Church

CME Church Episcopal Office

4466 Elvis Presley Blvd. Memphis, TN 38116

Call Us

(901) 345-0580

Find A Church

CME Chaplains Organization

The Chaplains meet twice per year, at the CME Unity Summit in the Fall and at the PST Pastor’s Conference in January for training. Retreats are scheduled periodically for more in-depth training. Persons who are active in the organization can be employed full or part-time as chaplains, paid or volunteer, or be candidates or students.  Annual dues are required to be considered a member.

Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Chair / Endorser
Rev. James E. Smith, Jr., Coordinator

Chaplain Reports & Documentation
CME Chaplains Annual Report Outline
Chaplaincy-Endorsement-Process

Announcing the 2023-2024

Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education (CCPE) Program

Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education Program, an educational experience for ministers and laypersons of all denominations to enhance their professional pastoral skills and personal development but are unable to be in a traditional CPE program due to time or other restrictions. It also enables probationary ministers in the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church (CME) to meet the requirement of one unit of CPE for full connection clergy membership. This unique program brings ministers from across the country together and in small groups for interactive, reflective learning using their own community and place of ministry as the context.

Click Here To Download Info

2023-2024 Program Dates

We will be offering two separate groups during the upcoming year.

FALL 2023

Deadline for Applications: July 31, 2023
Orientation (In Person)
Monday-Friday, August 21-25 at the CME Unity Summit
Hyatt Regency Hotel, New Orleans, LA

Monthly meetings via Zoom:
Twice Monthly on Friday Evenings.
Exact dates TBD at Orientation

Final Evaluations & Graduation:
(Pastors Conference, Atlanta): Mon-Tues, January 8-9, 2023

SPRING 2024

Deadline for Applications: November 1, 2023
Orientation (In Person)
Wednesday – Friday, January 10-12, 2024
at the PST Pastors Conference, Atlanta, GA

Monthly meetings via Zoom:
Twice Monthly on Friday Evenings.
Exact dates TBD at Orientation

Final Evaluations & Graduation:
(Connectional Youth/Young Adult Conference):

Additional Program Information:

  • The student is responsible for all of his/her travel, lodging and food costs at the in-person educational sessions.
  • The focus of this CPE program is on ministry in the congregation. Participants must have an approved place of ministry in order to complete the required hours in ministry each month of the program.
  • The recommendation of a presiding bishop or supervising pastor is required as well.
  • In addition to the ministry hours, attendance at all sessions is required.
  • There will be written assignments, readings and some internet-based assignments.
  • The program operates under the auspices of the Academy for Public Theology through the Office of the CME Endorser. The faculty is comprised of certified CPE Supervisors and certified professional chaplains.
  • TUITION is $550, which includes $50 non-refundable application fee, a $150 deposit once accepted into the program and a balance of $350 payable before the program begins. The tuition includes the required books.
  • There is currently no scholarship program, however a payment plan can be arranged.

How To Apply: Connectional Clinical Pastoral Education

  • The electronic application packet is available at:  Eletronic Application Packet
  • The application includes several forms as well as essay questions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
  • Space is limited in each group, so apply early!

  • Send applications and fees payable to:
    Academy for Public Theology
    Connectional CPE Program
    P. O. Box 5069
    Sun City Center, FL 33571

    or

    Email to: info@AcademyForPublicTheology.com
    and pay fees at https://buy.stripe.com/aEU4infQw7NA5dS4gg

For more information, send an email to: info@AcademyForPublicTheology.com

Released by Bishop Teresa Jefferson-Snorton
CME Endorsing Agent for Chaplaincy and CPE Program Coordinator

Chaplain of the Year Award

The Chaplains Organization annually recognizes one of its members for outstanding contribution to the field of chaplaincy ministry. The award is presented at the annual PST Pastor’s Conference.

Past Recipients
Rev. Francies Mitchell (2017)
Chaplain Yolanda Gillen (2016)
Chaplain Eduardo Spragg (2015)
Chaplain John “Pete” Richardson
Chaplain (Rev. Dr.) Teresa Snorton
Chaplain Leroy Johnson

Military Chaplaincy Requirements

Army Chaplain

You must obtain an ecclesiastical endorsement from your faith group. This endorsement should certify that you are:

  1. A clergy person in your denomination or faith group.
  2. Qualified spiritually, morally, intellectually and emotionally to serve as a Chaplain in the Army.
  3. Sensitive to religious pluralism and able to provide for the free exercise of religion by all military personnel, their family members and civilians who work for the Army.

Educationally, you must:

  1. Possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours.
  2. Possess a graduate degree in theological or religious studies, plus have earned at least a total of 72 semester hours in graduate work in these fields of study.

Applicants for active duty or the National Guard MUST be U.S. citizens. Permanent residents can ONLY apply for the Army Reserve. You must be able to meet the following requirements:

  1. Be able to receive a favorable National Agency Security Clearance.
  2. Pass a physical exam at one of our Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).
  3. A minimum of two years of full-time professional experience, validated by the applicant’s endorsing agency (This requirement is not applicable to Army Reserve applicants).
  4. Must be at least 21 years of age, but younger than 42 at time of Regular Army commissioning or less than 45 at time of Army Reserve commissioning. Prior service applicants with at least 3 years of prior AFS or creditable USAR service must be younger than 47 at time of Army Reserve commissioning.

CHAPLAIN CANDIDATE REQUIREMENTS
Click here for additional information

To be eligible for this program, you must:

  1. Obtain an ecclesiastical approval from your denomination or faith group.

Educationally, you must:

  1. Possess a baccalaureate degree of not less than 120 semester hours (College seniors can apply before completion of their undergraduate program).
  2. Be a full-time graduate student at an accredited seminary or theological school.
  3. Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
  4. Be able to receive a favorable National Agency Security Clearance.
  5. Pass a physical exam at one of our Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS).
  6. Must be at least 18 years of age and not older than 39 years of age at time of commissioning.

While attending seminary, Chaplain Candidates may apply for tuition assistance through the U.S. Army Reserve. You may be eligible for up to 100% of the tuition costs, up to $250 per credit hour with a maximum cap of $4500 per year. This program requires service of at least four years in a U.S. Army Reserve unit once you become a qualified Chaplain.

Click Here for more information

Navy Chaplain

Click Here for more information.

Qualifications and Requirements:

Candidates must satisfy specific criteria to be eligible for employment consideration.

  1. U.S. citizenship: Required
  2. Education: Hold a BA or BS degree with not less than 120 semester hours from a qualified educational institution; and hold a post-baccalaureate graduate degree of not less than 72 semester hours in theological or related studies
  3. Ecclesiastical endorsement: Required, from a religious faith organization registered with the Department of Defense (DoD)
  4. Gender: Male or female
  5. Age: Must be able to complete 20 years of service before age 62
  6. Medical Exam: Required
  7. Physical fitness test: Required

Air Force Chaplain

Click Here for more information

Qualifications and Requirements:

  1. U.S. citizenship: Required (no dual citizenship)
  2. Education: BA or BS degree with not less than 120 semester hours from a qualified educational institution; and a post-baccalaureate graduate degree in theology of not less than 72 semester hours.
  3. Ecclesiastical endorsement: Required, from a religious faith organization registered with the Department of Defense (DoD)
  4. Expierence: 2 years religious leadership experience
  5. Age: Must enter active duty before age 42
  6. Medical exam: Required
  7. Physical fitness test: Required
    1. Must meet Air Force height/weight requirements

Chaplaincy Endorsement Process

The CME Church joins the Pan-Methodist Commission Online Chaplaincy Endorsement Process:

Beginning January 2019, all requests for Ecclesiastical Endorsement from The Christian Methodist Episcopal Church will be submitted using the Pan-Methodist on-line application.


APPLICANTS, BOARD OF CHAPLAINS, PRESIDING ELDERS, AND COLLEGE OF BISHOPS
You will need to self-register at https://methodist.smapply.io/ or request online access by contacting the site administrators in the office of the United Methodist Endorsing Agency – General Board of Higher Education and Ministry by e-mailing: umea@gbhem.org or calling: 615-340-7411.

THREE STEP PROCESS

1. DISCERNMENT
Prayerfully seek God’s wisdom in answering the Call To Serve as a CME Chaplain

2. Book of Discipline
¶423.4 – ¶423.5 CME Church’s Procedures for endorsement

3. Online application
https://methodist.smapply.io/

Once you have your user name, which normally will be your business e-mail address, set up your unique access code (password), and state role/reason for requesting access: Applicant, Reviewer for the Board of Chaplains, or Recommender (confidential character reference), all you will need to do is follow the below on-screen prompts for APPLICATION:

  • Select Denomination: Christian Methodist Episcopal
  • Select area(s) ecclesiastical endorsement is being requested for example: “Military and Civilian Ecclesiastical Endorsement,” “Ecclesiastical Approval – Volunteer Chaplains,” “Military Chaplain Candidate Program” or “Clinical Pastoral Education”.
  • Applicant will need to enter contact information for their Presiding Bishop and your references. The Pan-Methodist Commission Ecclesiastical Endorsement cyber secure encrypted informational system will automatically notify them by e-mail along with periodic reminders that you are requesting their professional reference and how to submit using the online tool.
  • Under the TASKS tab, in keeping with CME Book of Discipline ¶423.4 §3, applicant upload required support documents including but not limited to Endorsement Application, Social Security Number Form, Recent Photograph, Background Check, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) profile or The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) assessment, transcripts, clinical pastoral education certification certificate as applicable, Essay – A Succinct Spiritual Life History, Essay – Ministry in the Setting to which you are Called To Serve, Essay on Remaining Connected to the CME Church, and documents required by the Institution applicant is seeking to serve.
  • Pay processing fee using the secure encrypted automatic payment portal

Once the CME Chaplains Coordinator has completed the Administrative Review Stage to check the application package for completeness, CME President of the Chaplains’ Board will be tasked with assigning members of the Board to serve as Virtual Interviewers and Presenters, leveraging technologies such as (https://hangouts.google.com/ or GoogleMeet.com or zoom.com), for the Chaplain Assessment Review and Evaluation (C.A.R.E.) Board.

The CME Endorsing Agent, after reviewing the recommendations of the Chaplain Coordinator, Chaplains Board and on-line package, will notify applicant of final decision and provide the endorsement.

ECCLESIASTICAL ENDORSEMENT
Ecclesiastical endorsement affirms clergy discerned by the church to be called by God to services as chaplain who are highly qualified and authorized to perform the full range of ministry required in pluralistic settings beyond the local church.

All chaplains are pastors, though not all pastors are called by God to be chaplains.

Only clergy who evidence and demonstrate the highest levels of competence through certified and approved education training and supervised ministerial experience need apply.

Highly qualified endorsed ordained clergy of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church have vocational opportunities to serve God in professional chaplaincy settings such as the military, VA, FBI, CIA, Secret Service, ICE, Bureau of Prisons, health-care, collegiate ministry, community emergency response services, retirement communities, children’s homes, hospice, marriage and family therapy, mental health, counseling centers, airports, cruise lines, sport organizations, Purdue Chicken, and other specialized ministries.

Vocations in Pastoral Care

Areas of Service
Pastor, Church Staff, Social Services

Training Recommended or Required
Clinical Pastoral Education (minimum of one unit)

Contact
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) www.acpe.edu

Areas of Service
Hospital, hospice, military, or other institutional chaplaincy

Training Recommended or Required
Clinical Pastoral Education (1-4 units required for employment, 4 units required for Board certification)

Contact
ACPE for training and Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), or College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) or National Assn of Catholic Chaplains, National Association of Jewish Chaplains for certification www.professionalchaplains.org www.cpsp.org www.nacc.org www.najc.org

Areas of Service
Supervisor of CPE programs in a variety of settings

Training Recommended or Required
CPE (Level I, Level 2 and Supervisory) Successful completion of certification process

Contact
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) www.acpe.edu or CPSP www.cpsp.org

Areas of Service
Counselor on church staff, counseling center or agency

Training Recommended or Required
CPE (at least 1 unit) PLUS Pastoral counseling training program

Contact
ACPE for introductory unit and American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) for pastoral counseling training www.aapc.org or www.cpsp.org

Areas of Service
Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Professional Counselor

Training Recommended or Required
Varies from state to state, Can often be done in conjunction with pastoral counseling training

Contact
AAPC, AAMFT or state credentialing agency www.aamft.org