The Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation (CCMV) at Seminary of the Southwest is founded on the principal that God calls all Christians to the service of the Gospel. For both lay and ordained persons using the gifts and skills God has given us, ministry is part of the fruitfulness of baptism. The mission of the Center is to support Christians in discerning what it means to respond faithfully to God's call in their particular lives and circumstances. Through its programs and degrees, the Center provides educational opportunities for men and women from any denomination (or from a non-denominational community) to strengthen their knowledge of theology, scripture, and ethics as well as pursue more specific training in chaplaincy, counseling, and spiritual formation.
Because of the almost unparalleled access chaplains, counselors, and spiritual advisors have to the inner lives of others, it is vital that each caregiver process their own emotional and spiritual wounds. Each student in CCMV will engage in at least 6 confidential counseling sessions offered by a licensed psychotherapist. The Seminary will subsidize these 6 sessions and provide a list of providers who use a sliding scale of payments based on income and need. Each student will provide a brief essay of therapy goals and a longer essay of how they grew in the counseling experience.