Mission and Future

The purpose of the Central Region is threefold:

• encourage the recruitment and certification of members;
• provide resources for professional development and competency, as well as fellowship and collegiality; and
• attend to local or geographical factors affecting the practice of pastoral counseling

To fulfill these purposes, the region provides:

• methods of communication, such as the newsletter, website, and e-mail notices;
• opportunities for training and continuing education, often coincident with the annual meeting;
• mentoring through the various certification processes; and
• times for fellowship and collegial support

The Executive Committee has recently identified the following priorities for the region:

• Communicating effectively in the Region:
  1. Develop and expand a website and communications network among members
  2. Keep an up-to-date e-mail list
  3. Publish the Roots and Branches newsletter both on-line and on paper
  4. Make personal contact with all members at all levels to foster recruitment, retention, and revitalization
• Leadership development:
  1. Expand the number of people involved in leadership or in specific projects
  2. Better support those in leadership positions through the Leadership Development Committee
• Networking with other agencies and organizations:
  1. Work to find local applications for the goals of the national organization to include pastoral care and counseling in a continuum of care, coordinated with other health care professionals and local congregations (such as National Depression or Addiction Screening Days, organ donor programs, training child care workers, etc.)
  2. Develop stronger relationships with seminaries and universities providing ministerial and pastoral care/counseling training