VIPCare's Program in Congregational Pastoral Care is designed for pastors, other church professionals, seminarians, chaplains and selected lay ministers who seek to increase skills in pastoral care and to deepen their theological understanding of the care of persons. The Program meets September through May on Thursday mornings from 9 am to 12 noon. There are five units of six sessions each. Enrollment for a single unit is possible, but the VIPCare Certificate of Completion is awarded only after five units of study and after completion of the learning project.

Academic credit is available for those enrolled in a Richmond Theological Consortium degree program, or admitted as special students of the School of Theology of Virginia Union University:

• PT663: Congregational Pastoral Care: Covers three units: the Art of Supportive Pastoral Counseling; Pastoral Diagnosis; Healthy Relationships in the Family and in the Church.

• PT733: Pastoral Care and the Minister: Continues PT 633. Learning units include Responding to Grief and Loss, Crisis Intervention, and a learning project of the participant's choice.

Each Thursday morning session includes a didactic presentation by a VIPCare faculty member, small group consultation about ministry encounters presented by participants, and support group time. Each unit of the reading seminar is taught by a different faculty member, allowing enrichment and dialogue with a variety of seasoned pastoral counselors. Ministry Support Group is facilitated by the program director, Dr. Sandra Kruschwitz Hamilton.

Admission Criteria

Calendar

Application for Congregational Pastoral Care Program         

Student Record
Scholarship Application

The Learning Project is on a cutting edge topic of the student's choice. It is completed prior to May graduation, or it can be extended through the summer at an additional fee of $100.

Tuition is $1,400 for the Pastoral Care Program or $280 per unit. Monthly payments may be negotiated in advance. In addition individual consultation or supervision is available for $75 per hour during the program or during summer break. Limited scholarship assistance may be available through the William B. Oglesby, Jr. Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Application procedure: Contact Program Director Dr. Sandra Kruschwitz Hamilton for a conversation or an application form. If the paper application, accompanied by a $75 processing fee, is in order, the applicant will be invited to complete psychological testing for which an $80 testing fee is charged. Qualified applicants will be invited to an interview with Dr. Hamilton. Upon approval by the faculty, the applicant will be notified concerning acceptance. July 1 is a flexible deadline for fall admission, although students may enter for any learning unit.

Those who complete the program and are ordained or endorsed to ministry are encouraged to apply for membership in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors as Pastoral Care Specialists. (See description on p. 9 of the catalogue.)