Valley Baptist Health System is a regional integrated health system, which includes two medical centers (to view an exciting video about Valley Baptist Health System click on the following link 2006 Annual Video Report), is seeking a System Director of ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education. The Valley Baptist Medical Center - Harlingen (VBMC-H) is an affiliate of the Valley Baptist Health System (VBHS) and is an acute care hospital facility with over 600 beds and numerous specialty care areas and programs. It is a Level III Trauma center located in Harlingen in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. The Valley Baptist Medical Center - Brownsville (VBMC-B) is a 243-bed hospital that has provided a broad range of quality medical and health care services to the Brownsville community since 1923. The rich Hispanic culture of the area, coupled with VBMC's close proximity to Mexico, provides Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) students with the opportunity to experience training in a multi-cultural environment. The large influx of winter visitors from the northern states and Canada adds to this cultural mix. Harlingen is also located a short drive from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico beaches at South Padre Island.




The System Director of CPE is actively involved in the supervision of Clinical Pastoral Education. The director is responsible to design and implement training programs of Clinical Pastoral Education within Valley Baptist Health System under the standards of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE). S/he develops curriculum, recruits, supervises student’s clinical work, provides educational opportunities, and evaluates students. S/he integrates spiritual care in partnership with staff chaplains for delivery of pastoral care. S/he cooperates with other members of the Department of Pastoral Services staff in the planning and administration of the overall training program at the institution. Develops and maintains community relations for the purpose of extending ACPE Clinical Pastoral Education to the broader religious community in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

Qualifications for this position include certification as an ACPE Supervisor by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education. Dual certification with the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) will also be accepted. Membership and Board Certification as a Chaplain by the Association of Professional Chaplains (APCP) is also expected. This position requires a college degree, a master’s level theological degree or equivalent, five years of experience in chaplaincy and chaplaincy supervision, ordination or commissioning for ministry by a recognized religious group, and current endorsement for chaplaincy by a recognized religious group.