Clinical Pastoral Education
Our chaplains and CPE students provide spiritual care for patients and families coping with health challenges and life-changing medical events. The Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program of the Division of Mission and Ministry was founded in 1974 and is dedicated to educating students so that they can offer kindness and strength to patients, families and staff. The CPE program helps students develop spiritual care skills and deepen their own self-understanding, whether students choose to pursue ministry in chaplain, parish or community settings.
Valley Baptist Health System: History to Present
Valley Baptist Health System’s hospitals in Harlingen and Brownsville had humble beginnings in the early days of the 20th century. Each hospital can trace its roots back to dedicated doctors and visionary citizens in their respective communities.
Through the donation of land from James Stillman and the generosity of other Brownsville residents, Mercy Hospital – which would become the Valley Baptist-Brownsville of today - opened in July 1923. That same year, 25 miles away in Harlingen, another hospital was being formed by a group of dedicated citizens who saw the need for a modern medical facility. Harlingen’s new 36-bed hospital - Valley Baptist Hospital - owned by the Lower Rio Grande Valley Baptist Association, opened as a not-for-profit community hospital on January 22, 1925.
Over the years, both hospitals experienced rapid growth and changes in ownership. In Harlingen, the Baptist General Convention of Texas acquired the hospital in 1945. It moved to its present location, on Pease Street off Ed Carey Drive, in 1956.
In Brownsville, a new wing and major renovations were added in 1952, resulting in an emergency room, a pediatric unit, a new laboratory and an operating room. In 1963, 52 more beds, a labor and delivery area, surgical suites and a radiology department were added. The hospital was operated by the Sisters of Mercy and known as Mercy Hospital or “La Merced” for 50 years until 1973, when it came under corporate ownership and became Brownsville Medical Center. Valley Baptist-Brownsville joined with Valley Baptist-Harlingen to become Valley Baptist Health System in 2004.
Valley Baptist Health System became part of Vanguard Health Systems in September 2011, and Valley Baptist transitioned to its current parent company, Tenet Healthcare, in 2015.
Both Valley Baptist-Brownsville and Valley Baptist-Harlingen are proud to be foundations of their communities, serving the healthcare needs of Cameron County and beyond for more than a century. Valley Baptist-Brownsville celebrated its centennial in 2023, and Valley Baptist-Harlingen celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025.
Pastoral Services staff and CPE students are integrated members of the Valley Baptist Health System care teams. We help patients, families and staff discover spiritual meaning, belonging and hope through individual pastoral visits, crisis response and support groups. Patients and family members may receive routine bedside visitation if desired. Care may include presence, prayer, sacramental support and connection with local clergy.
Mission and Values of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE)
Mission
To positively affect people’s lives by nurturing connections to the sacred through experiential education and spiritual care.
Vision
To create measurable and appreciable improvement in spiritual health that transforms people and communities in the US and across the globe.
Values
Diversity and inclusion – demonstrated through cultural humility, attentiveness and collegiality.
Integrity – demonstrated through trust, respect and excellence.
Curiosity – demonstrated through listening, experiential models, innovation and creativity.
Process – demonstrated through action and reflection, listening, experiential and relational models.
Service – demonstrated through compassion, authenticity and growth.
Division of Mission and Ministry Mission Statement
The Mission and Ministry Department is guided by Valley Baptist Health System’s Mission Statement, We help people achieve health for life through compassionate service inspired by faith.
Our departmental mission is
“To serve patient and families, employees, students and physicians with excellence in…
Pastoral Ministry, Education for Ministry, and Leadership for our VBHS values, faith-based mission, biomedical ethics and community ministry.”