The College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy is a theologically based covenant community, dedicated to "recovery of the soul" and promoting competency in the clinical pastoral field.
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I am new to the membership of College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy (CPSP). I am not new, however, to the spirit and fellowship of CPSP.
Currently I am working as a retired ACPE Supervisor supervising a variety of clinical training programs at Baptist Medical Center in Jackson, MS where Dr. Al Carden is the Director of the Department of Pastoral Care.
Acting upon the encouragement of Dr. Carden to explore membership with the CPSP, I attended a meeting of the Deep South Chapter where he is a member. Immediately I felt not only welcomed but that I had found a sacred home. There was in this gathering the experience of serious professionalism and rich community. Recently I became a member of the Chapter as a CPSP Diplomate in Clinical Pastoral Supervision.
My journey into the meaning of the CPSP community continued beyond the Chapter. A rather ineffable experience occurred while waiting for the opening session of the 2008 CPSP Plenary. Looking around the room my eyes focused on the CPSP logo displayed behind the podium. The circle, form, colors and movements of blue and green leaped out at me with an inspiration of visual empowerment.
It was revealed to me in that emotional moment what CPSP is attempting to preserve. CPSP is committed to honor the heritage of our theological journey.
Looking at the CPSP Logo I saw the blue at the base as our theological heritage---the source of our foundation. The circle in blue represented our transcendence. I saw in the elusive growth in green as the constant reaching beyond structure, yet having a boundary that gives life and vitality to our being and our personhood as people and as clinicians.
This transcendent ecstasy needed to become a written expression, not limited to a private experience. My exposure to the spirit and fellowship, both now, and the remembrance of the early pilgrims and my pilgrimage in CPE felt very sacred in that moment in time.
Attempting to state, not capture that sacred image and vision that came to me when my eyes locked onto the CPSP logo, I wrote:
...Reaching for WHOLENESS…. we are already grounded in that which we are yearning for…
Immediately I shared my experience with my colleague Al Carden. That was not enough. I needed to share it with the leadership. After the speaker, I told Perry Miller. His response was “...after all these years you are still creative and crazy, e-mail it to me...”
We in CPSP are the creative and the crazies who still trust that the Creators intention for us was to be fully human as the gift to be holy without isolation.
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Benson Thomas is a CPSP Diplomate and can be contacted by clicking here.
Posted by Perry Miller, Editor at June 2, 2008 10:30 PM
