Press release: Academy for Jewish Religion – CA – ACPE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AJRCA Now Fully Accredited to Train Chaplain Educators
Meeting the Growing Demand for Spiritual Care in a Religiously Shifting World
Los Angeles, CA – September 4, 2025 – The Chaplaincy Education Program of the Academy for Jewish Religion California (AJRCA) has received full accreditation from the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE), a milestone that enables the institution to certify both chaplains and CPE educators — and positions AJRCA as the premier Jewish graduate institution in the United States to do so.
In an era of declining formal religious affiliation but increasing demand for emotional and spiritual support, AJRCA is stepping into a crucial role. With this new accreditation, AJRCA can now train not only board-certified Jewish chaplains but also Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) educators — the mentors and supervisors who will shape the next generation of spiritual care providers across the country and around the world.
This accreditation marks more than an academic milestone. It positions AJRCA at the forefront of a national conversation about how we train, support, and deploy chaplains in spaces where people seek meaning, comfort, and connection — from hospitals and hospices to prisons, elder care centers, universities, cruise ships, and corporate workplaces. As the first Jewish seminary to offer this level of certification through a flexible, online-accessible CPE program, AJRCA is expanding its reach to educate spiritual caregivers across faith traditions and geographic boundaries.
“We are immensely proud of this achievement, which reflects the dedication of our faculty, staff, and students,” said Rabbi Joshua Hoffman, President & CEO. “Under Rev. Dr. Trina Williams’ expertise, our Chaplaincy Education Program has become a beacon of spiritual leadership, preparing chaplains to address the evolving needs of today’s diverse communities with compassion and wisdom.”
“This milestone empowers us to widen our lens — not just training individual chaplains, but shaping the educators who will guide countless others,” said Rev. Dr. Trina Williams. “In doing so, we multiply our impact and help ensure that spiritual care remains compassionate, inclusive, and rooted in deep ethical and pastoral wisdom, no matter the setting or faith background.”
With this milestone, AJRCA reaffirms its mission to meet people where they are — spiritually, geographically, and emotionally — by preparing leaders who can offer healing and presence in life’s most vulnerable moments. From board-certified chaplains to certified educators, AJRCA’s graduates are helping build a more spiritually responsive world.
AJRCA’s partnership with Loyola Marymount University, where the school relocated in 2021, has further strengthened its academic and communal offerings. The institution currently serves 65 students internationally and boasts over 225 alumni leading as rabbis, cantors, chaplains, and educators nationwide.
For more information about AJRCA’s Chaplaincy Education Program or to explore enrollment opportunities, visit www.ajrca.edu or contact admissions@ajrca.edu.
About the Academy for Jewish Religion California
Founded in 2001, the Academy for Jewish Religion California (AJRCA) is a holistic and versatile Jewish seminary dedicated to training rabbis, cantors, chaplains, and community leaders. With a commitment to pluralism, scholarship, and community, AJRCA prepares its graduates to serve diverse Jewish and interfaith communities through innovative, low-residency programs. Located on the campus of Loyola Marymount University, AJRCA continues to lead in Jewish professional education and spiritual leadership.
Media Contacts:
Rabbi Joshua Hoffman
President & CEO
Academy for Jewish Religion California
Phone: 213.884.4133
Email: jhoffman@ajrca.edu
Robin Federman
Director of Admission and Marketing
Academy for Jewish Religion California
Phone: 310.903.7170
Email: rfederman@ajrca.edu