Chaplaincy Education

2006-2007

A message from our
Director of Education

Whatever dream Spirit has
given you, we support you!

There are so many ways to serve and to allow yourself to be God’s eyes, ears, hands and feet. If you have been given the vision of bringing a greater recognition of spirituality into the world, then may these courses support you in your journey. They have been designed to give you an under-standing of working with people from diverse backgrounds as they manage their daily lives.

This is a path of courage and faith. We are grateful to travel with you on the journey that we share.

With Blessings,
Rev. Gloria Diamond Conley

ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

• Application
• Copy of current Practitioners License or Ministerial License through UCRS/UCSL (if pending, a letter confirming enrollment in Practitioner Studies)
• Requests for waivers must be completed within three months after admission
• E-mail and Internet Access
  

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

• Completion of all coursework
  and assignments
• Completion of the Internship
• Note: As with all educational programs, completion of coursework does not imply that the student will become a chaplain under New Perspectives.
  

AREAS OF STUDY AND CLASSES

Communication
Cultural Diversity (20 hrs.)
Religious Diversity (30 hrs.)
Mediation Facilitation & Conflict
Transformation (10 hrs.)
* How To Deal With Difficult People
(7 hrs.)
Non-Violent Communication (7 hrs.)
Customer Service (7 hrs.)

Technical Training
Suicide Awareness and Making Referrals
(10 hrs.)
Pastoral Care (20 hrs.)
Crisis Management/Critical Incident
Stress Management (10 hrs.)

Personal Development
Maintaining Balance (10 hrs.)
Mind/Body Medicine (10 hrs.)
Leadership: Ethics/Values/Stewardship
(20 hrs.)

Internship Experience
Supervised Internship (to be arranged)

Cultural Diversity I:
America is a constantly changing melting pot, much different than other countries where mono-cultures exist. With different rules and expectations, it is important for the chaplain to understand the culture of the people with whom s/he works. The first half of the course covers Hispanic and African American cultures.

Cultural Diversity II:
This is a continuation of the exploration done in Cultural Diversity I and it includes Native American, European, Asian, as well as the cultures. This course also includes culture based upon Sexual Orientation and gender.

Customer Service:
In this course, the participant will look at how customer service/client care impacts the work of the chaplain. The objective of the course is to raise awareness of the importance of excellent customer service in the vocation of spirituality and in every day living.

Leadership I: There are many different styles of leadership. Chaplains are called upon to work with/as leaders wherever they serve. This class allows the chaplain to recognize the leadership styles of others, as well as how to communicate with those who represent management in the areas where they are in service.

Conflict Transformation II:
In this continuation of the first half of the course, the topics of mediation and conflict transformation are addressed from the perspective of the role of Spirit in creative resolution.

Mind/Body Connection:
The class incorporates the latest research in the field of Mind Body Medicine as well as the practical tools of meditation, treatment, visioning, study and sharing. Our bodies are the vehicles for expressing Spirit. We learn to treat ourselves with respect and care remembering that we are the "body of God".

Pastoral Care I: This class offers guidance in the care and nurturance of people as they experience difficulty in their personal lives, as well as the handling of hospital and prison visits and dealing with loss in the workplace.

Pastoral Care II: The chaplain is called upon to work with any unresolved issues that they can access. Techniques will be used to expand the student’s understanding of their own concerns and the necessity of preventing the projection of their own issues upon their clients.

COURSE TUITION

Tuition is based upon a course fee of $15/hour. All tuition must be paid in full prior to the first class meeting.

REFUND POLICY

If student must cancel enrollment, a refund for class registration is available until two weeks before the class. There is a 10% withdrawal fee until that time. If withdrawal takes place between that time and the beginning of the class, a 50% refund of tuition is available.

A student may opt to receive 80% credit toward taking the class during the next year in lieu of a refund.

WITHDRAWAL AND READMISSION

A student may withdraw from the pro-gram at any time. This is to be done in writing and is the personal responsibility of the student. Readmission is allowed if formal application is made. This is subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of New Perspectives.

We envision a world that supports the full expression of the human spirit.

With this in mind, we offer coursework for ministers and practitioners who want to expand their professional environment to include the workplace.

The program culminates in the student receiving a Certificate of Completion that acknowledges the fulfillment of all course requirements in the areas of:

• Communication
• Technical Training
• Personal Development
• Internship Experience
  

What are you preparing for?

Chaplains are found in many arenas outside of the church. We have become used to hospital chaplains and military chaplains for a long time. Now the emerging markets are in colleges and universities, emergency services (police, fire, ambulance services, etc.), and in the business world.

The recognition that people bring their faith with them wherever they are has provided the groundwork for the growth in spiritual services, especially those that accommodate all faiths.

CLASS DESCRIPTIONS

Communications: This class covers a variety of ways that communication can be addressed in the business world. It includes Nonviolent Communicationtm (NVC), a process that strengthens our ability to inspire compassion from others and respond compassionately to others and ourselves. NVC guides us to reframe how we express ourselves and how we hear others by focusing our consciousness on what we are observing, feeling, needing, and requesting. It is a language of empathy and honesty, and is sometimes described as “the language of the heart.”

Crisis Management / Critical Incident Stress Management:
A critical (or traumatic) incident is any event outside the usual realm human experience that is markedly distressing (e.g. evokes reactions of intense fear, helplessness, horror, etc.) Such critical incidents usually involve the perceived threat to one's physical integrity or the physical integrity of someone else. Most importantly, critical incidents are determined by how they undermine a person's sense of safety, security and competency in the world. This results in a form of psychiatric injury, also called post-traumatic impact or post-traumatic stress.

Leadership II: Continuing the exploration of leadership styles, the chaplain is called upon to examine personal leadership styles, as well as the art and ethics of spiritual leadership. It will include a look at how the Science of Mind principles are effective in chaplaincy arena.

Maintaining Balance:
The requirement to increase productivity has had a tremendous impact on the personal lives of human beings, causing increased stress, tension, and family difficulties. In addition, working with those who are stressed can leave the chaplain with a feeling of burnout. The course covers an exploration of stress reduction, and a personal look at the way that chaplains can prevent emotional exhaustion. In addition, it encourages the chaplain to be a model of a balanced life for clients.

Suicide Awareness/Making referrals:
This class covers the assessment of one's personal thoughts about suicide, warning signs to look for in your clients, helpful language while assessing the situation, supporting the family and friends after a suicide has taken place in the family, as well as an exploration of the controversial topic of assisted suicide.

Conflict Transformation I:
This class begins with a discussion of mediation, what it is, an exploration of the process, and the role of the facilitator.

Religious Diversity I:
America consists of people with many different spiritual and religious beliefs. This course begins an overview of the diversity of religions that the chaplain may find in the chaplaincy arenas.
The first class will cover Christianity and Islam.

Religious Diversity II:
Continuing the survey of religions in the workplace, this course covers Judaism and Eastern Religions.

Religious Diversity III:
The final class in religious diversity covers Paganism, Fundamentalism, Catholicism, 12-Step Spirituality, Atheism and Agnosticism.

* Spirituality in the Workplace:
The separation of church and state has brought American business to a place of denying the spiritual aspects of leadership and the recognition that many businesses require employees to deny the existence of their personal and spiritual lives while they are at work. This class discusses the history, implications and results of this type of management, as well as an exploration of the opportunity to provide spiritual counsel in the workplace. It will include a look at how the chaplain can support employees as well as business leaders.

*Tentative class?

COURSE COMPLETION

Students may take up to three years to complete the coursework. The Board of Trustees may grant an extension in response to a written request.

LIABILITY

New Perspectives assumes no responsibility for personal property and possessions brought to any function.

COURSE REVISIONS

The right to change the curriculum, procedures, requirements, policies, tuition, location and schedule of classes is reserved by New Perspectives.

ACADEMIC STANDARDS

It is a requirement that students comply with general standards of integrity, financial responsibility and honesty. Violation of these standards is cause for a review of enrollment and remedial action, which may result in dismissal from the program.