Posted on March 3: St. Peter’s and Divinity College to jointly train future clinical pastoral education students

St. Peter's Family of Services has announced an affiliation with McMaster Divinity College. With the affiliation, clinical pastoral education students will develop and improve their skills while serving as spiritual resources for St. Peter's patients, families and employees at St. Peter's Hospital and St. Peter's Residence at Chedoke.

“I am very enthusiastic about an affiliation agreement between McMaster Divinity College and St. Peter's,” says Stanley E. Porter, president and dean of the College. “This partnership will enable us to work together to train future Christian leaders in serving in institutional settings.”

“Although St. Peter's is Anglican in origin, it is now a non-sectarian, faith-friendly environment,” says St. Peter's CEO Grant Walsh. “Our holistic care of individuals includes ensuring opportunities to address their spiritual needs. This affiliation with McMaster Divinity will complement and supplement the pastoral care services which we so highly value.”

While at St. Peter's, students will support the activities of the Department of Pastoral Service while gaining practical experience in spiritual care. It is hoped that the first students will come to St. Peter's later this year and will work directly with the reverend John Vlainic (pastor John) who serves as director of pastoral service at St. Peter's.