Congregational Pastoral Care Program

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 9am to noon; there are five units of six sessions each.
  • 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.
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.

Admission Criteria

  • Membership in good standing in a recognized denomination or faith group
  • A responsible relationship to one's local religious community
  • Active involvement in a parish or similar setting

Calendar

  • The Art of Supportive Pastoral Counseling (Sept.-mid Oct.)
  • Pastoral Diagnosis (mid Oct. - early Dec.)
  • Healthy Relationships in the Family and Church (Jan. - Feb.)
  • Responding to Grief and Loss (end of Feb. - early April)
  • Crisis Intervention: Suicide Prevention, Alcoholism, Abuse
     (mid-April through May)
  •  Graduation- Last Wednesday in May

Tuition   

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.

Scholarships

Limited scholarship assistance may be available through the William B. Oglesby, Jr. Scholarship Endowment Fund.

Applying

Contact Program Director Dr. Sandra Kruschwitz Hamilton for 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 the flexible deadline for fall admission.