“When you open a door not just for yourself, but other people get a chance to walk through the door, I think that’s a good thing.” – Rev. Joanne Browne Jennings on the importance of CPE and Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School.

Historically, innovation stands outs as one of the many distinguishing characteristics of Andover Newton Seminary at Yale Divinity School as an institution. In 1931, Austin Philip Guiles began a clinical pastoral education program at Andover Newton, which became the first seminary to feature clinical training in its curriculum. The program in part answered Depression-era calls not only for greater professionalization among Protestant clergy but also increase focus on the psychology of religion.

The clinical pastoral education (CPE) studied hospitals, mental health facilities, and prisons to develop and utilize the best practices for group counseling, verbatims, and case studies. For Guiles and Andover Newton, the goal of the CPE program was to equip pastors with the tools needed to care for more well-rounded congregations. With funding from the Earhart Foundation, Andover Newton helped introduce similar models at Bangor Theological Seminary, University of Southern California, the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge, Boston University, and Chicago Theological Seminary.  

Today, Andover Newton at YDS continues its innovative tradition and opening doors through the CPE program at YDS. According to Founding Dean, Sarah Drummond, “Andover Newton at YDS created and implemented the pre-CPE course for two reasons: first, students were entering this transformational chaplaincy internship unprepared for its emotional toll. Second, Andover Newton was the right seminary to offer such preparation given its 100-year history of innovations in theological education through mentored experience.”

To view the brief interview with Rev. Joanne Browne Jennings, please visit our recent social media spotlight here.