First Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care graduate
Jun 18, 2009
Barbara Rusling
Southwest awards first chaplaincy and pastoral care diploma
After nine years of being a lay pastor at St. Michael's Church in Austin, Barbara Rusling was ready for something more. She had developed ministries at the church and been a senior warden but she found a new path through study at Seminary of the Southwest.
Originally admitted in Southwest's former master of arts in pastoral ministry and counseling programs, her academic work over recent years dovetailed with the creation of the master of arts in chaplaincy and pastoral care degree program within the seminary's Center for Christian Ministry and Vocation (CCMV).
Details of the degree curriculum
Rusling received the seminary's first chaplaincy and pastoral care diploma at the May 12 commencement. In September she enters a one-year chaplaincy residency at Scott & White Hospital in Temple to fulfill the clinical pastoral education (CPE) requirement for professional certification.
"We are very pleased to graduate our first chaplaincy and pastoral care seminarian," said Ellen Jockusch, CCMV director. "More and more people are being drawn to the chaplaincy and Southwest is unique among Episcopal seminaries in offering a master's degree program for this ministry."
Rusling was able to attend daytime classes and be part of chapel groups with divinity seminarians, as well as enrolling in evening/alternate weekend classes with fellow CCMV students. "The coursework was very challenging and I experienced a lot of growth," she said. "My trust in God let me negotiate several bumps along the way," including the death of Peter Attwell, a classmate and fellow St. Michael's parishioner, who died of cancer two springs ago.
In addition to being a part-time chaplain at the South Austin Hospital during her seminary studies, Rusling completed a summer CPE session at a hospital for children and women in Hawaii. She is certified as a Stephen Ministry leader - a program that trains and organizes lay people to provide one-to-one Christian care to hurting people in and around their congregations.
The MCPC curriculum at Southwest has five core courses in basic theological, historical, biblical and ethical material for ministry. Other required coursework equips students for general chaplaincy ministry in a variety of settings. Elective courses enable students to broaden and deepen their understanding of particular ministries in specified settings (hospice, VA hospitals, prisons, workplaces, schools and disaster relief, for example). The curriculum is designed to be in compliance with the requirements of the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) for recognition as a board certified chaplain.
