National Lutheran Communities & Services Becomes a Satellite Site for Eastern Mennonite Seminary’s Clinical Pastoral Education Program
Rockville, MD (PRWEB) June 15, 2016 -- Theological students from Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS), along with clergy and laypersons pursuing Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), will be able to continue earning credits toward their denominational ordination requirements and/or certification as professional chaplains at National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS). NLCS will now serve as a satellite site to EMS, enabling students to learn at various locations throughout the National Lutheran family.
“NLCS is on a journey. This journey will enable us to walk with clergy, ministers and seminarians as they encounter pastoral, personal and professional growth through the CPE process,” said Rev. Dr. William Boldin, NLCS’ course assistant for the CPE program and chaplain at The Village at Orchard Ridge. “We are excited to partner with EMS on this journey.”
The program offerings will start at The Village at Orchard Ridge—A National Lutheran Community (TVOR) in Winchester, Va., in the fall of 2016. Program participants will gain hands-on ministry experience through supervised learning opportunities as a chaplain at TVOR. The CPE program is designed to help participants develop self and interpersonal awareness, conceptual knowledge, competence, and through learning reflection, become life-long learners for growing as ministers.
“NLCS is on the cutting edge of understanding what contributes to a purposeful and satisfying life in retirement, and TVOR is an excellent setting for equipping pastors, seminarians and lay leaders for effective ministry to seniors and their families,” EMS’s Director of CPE & Mentored Ministry Kenton T. Derstine said. “With the percentage of our population in their retirement years growing every year, it is essential that pastors understand the needs of seniors.”
EMS Dean Dr. Michael King echoed the value of this program and explained that it offers numerous hands-on learning opportunities.
“As one of the few seminaries in the country hosting its own CPE program, we’re delighted that EMS is able to offer resources to a growing number of practicum locations—including The Village at Orchard Ridge,” said King. “These hands-on CPE sites offer EMS students invaluable learning opportunities.”
About National Lutheran Communities & Services (NLCS)
Based in Rockville, Md., NLCS is a not-for-profit, faith-based ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s (ELCA) Delaware-Maryland, Metropolitan Washington, D.C. and Virginia Synods, serving people of all beliefs. NLCS provides seniors with a variety of lifestyle, residential and health care options through retirement communities and services in Maryland and Virginia.
Other communities and services sponsored by National Lutheran include The Village at Rockville in Rockville, Md., The Legacy at North Augusta in Staunton, Va., The Village at Orchard Ridge and myPotential at Home in Winchester, Va., and The Village at Crystal Spring in Annapolis, Md., subject to Maryland Department of Aging approval. For more information, visit http://www.nationallutheran.org
About Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS)
Eastern Mennonite Seminary (EMS) provides training programs and graduate degrees to help people discern their call. EMS prepares people for a variety of ministry and leadership roles in the church, academy and beyond. As an Anabaptist seminary, EMS has special emphasis in peacebuilding, biblical studies, spiritual formation and theology. We train leaders for Mennonite Church USA, and The United Methodist Church, as well as other denominations.
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Courtney Malengo, National Lutheran Communities & Services, http://www.nationallutheran.org, +1 (301) 354-2706, [email protected]
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