The Center for Pastoral Education is a seminary-based chaplaincy education program within the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in New York City. Founded in 2010, the Center offers clinical and academic education to seminary students, clergy, and professionals from all faith traditions and all Jewish movements.
With funding from the Henry Luce Foundation, the Center commissioned a study to explore and document the effects of its hybrid model, which combines clinical and academic pastoral education. The research, led by two social scientists and overseen by a theological educator, seeks to understand the ways in which the distinct Jewish seminary context and the hybrid clinical and academic educational model impact students’ abilities to meet professional goals and their readiness for their roles in the field.
The research has two components, which will be conducted semi-concurrently. The first part of the study is an implementation evaluation of the emerging virtual pastoral education model as it unfolds in response to the coronavirus crisis. Data will be collected to document and support the development of the Center’s online summer CPE program. The immediate impact of virtual learning and tele-chaplaincy clinical experiences on respondents’ learning will also be explored.
The second component is outcomes-oriented, focused on investigating how and the extent to which participation in the Center’s training programs have influenced the spiritual and theological formation and professional trajectories of alumni. This research will identify respondents’ perceptions of how the combined academic-clinical model, the Center’s positioning within a Jewish seminary, and its multi-faith partnerships affected their experiences, educational outcomes, spiritual formation, and professional trajectories.
Data collection for both components will include: in-depth qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, current students and alumni; an online survey; and document analysis. This research will be conducted over the course of 20 months: between May 2020 and December 2021.