ACPE Conference
A small group from our PHM team took part in celebrating 100 years of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at the 2025 ACPE Conference in Minnesota. Gathering with over 400 spiritual care educators, chaplains, and students from CPE centers across the USA was both inspiring and affirming. We shared insights on teaching, research, and the evolving landscape of spiritual care. The conference was rich with workshops led by fellow educators, and we were honored that PHM was selected to present one as well.
We are reminded that you, and supporters like you, are the heart behind our participation in the CPE movement rooted in compassion, transformation, and hope.
One of the highlights for us was facilitating a workshop at the conference. We engaged attendees to reflect on the CPE method from their unique cultural contexts and perspectives—just as teaching CPE in Hawaiʻi is deeply embedded in the cultural context. This educational model has been instrumental in our calling to spiritual care service, and PHM is proud to be the only ACPE-accredited CPE program in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Rim for over 36 years. Your faithful support is what helps make this meaningful work possible.
Chaplain Elaine reflected on the opening evening of the conference:
“…a theatrical play depicted the early founders engaging among themselves using the CPE method of Interpersonal Reflection. It reinforced for me the value and healing power of what we chaplains do—compassionate listening.”
The conference strengthened our commitment to current and future spiritual care where we can demonstrate our dedication to being fully present with people in their most vulnerable moments and serve with compassion across all our island communities. Support like yours has been essential to helping us with our kuleana to maintain the highest standards of spiritual care and education through the years and into the future.
As we celebrate CPE’s legacy, please help fuel the next 100 years of spiritual care education in Hawaiʻi with a gift to Pacific Health Ministry.
Your support directly impacts our ability to:
• Maintain 24/7 spiritual care coverage across all 12 institutions we serve
• Expand CPE training to additional islands including Maui and Kauaʻi
• Bridge the significant gap between student tuition and actual training costs
• Provide cultural competency training that honors Hawaiʻi’s diverse communities
Every gift, no matter the size, makes a meaningful difference.
Please consider becoming a monthly supporter with a recurring gift of $10, $25, or $50 to provide steady support for our ongoing CPE programs and spiritual care. Every donation you make is impactful and strengthens our mission to serve all communities, populations, faiths, and cultures across our islands.
Thank you for standing with us as we honor CPE’s past while building its future in Hawaiʻi. The discussions, lessons, and connections from the conference will continue to inspire our work and motivate our community at PHM, knowing that you are part of our ʻohana.
If you’ve already given during our appeal — mahalo! Your support means so much to us.
With deep gratitude and aloha,
Rev. Anke Flohr
Executive Director
Pacific Health Ministry
P.S. Your donation in support of our spiritual care work helps us carry forward our commitment to spiritual care and education excellence while nurturing the next generation of spiritual caregivers who will bring healing presence to our island communities for decades to come.