Interfaith Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency Program-Oregon State Hospital (6 positions)

Initial Posting Date:

07/24/2026

Application Deadline:

08/31/2026

Agency:

Oregon Health Authority

Salary Range:

3,515.00-3,952.00

Position Type:

Employee

Position Title:

Interfaith Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency Program-Oregon State Hospital (6 positions)

Job Description:

If this opportunity aligns with your strengths, background, and commitment to fostering inclusivity, we encourage you to apply! At the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), we value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds and experiences to help us build a stronger, more equitable future for all.

Opportunity Awaits, Apply Today! –Interfaith Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency Program (6 positions) Oregon State Hospital-Salem, Oregon

Under the direction of the Oregon Health Authority, the Oregon State Hospital (OSH) operates campuses in Salem, Junction City and Pendleton to provide patient-centered, psychiatric treatment for adults from throughout the state who need hospital-level care. The hospital's primary goal is to help people recover from their illness and return to the community. Services include psychiatric evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment, as well as community outreach and peer support.

If you are a Religious or Spiritual Leader seeking to enhance your ability to minister to others in multicultural, interfaith/interreligious ways, our program is designed to do just that. This unique opportunity runs from September 2026 to September 2027 (exact dates to be determined) and successful applicants will receive salary and benefits. This is a limited-duration program. The Oregon State Hospital does not charge tuition for units of CPE and the cost for any educational supplies will be less than $100/unit. 

What is CPE? 

Clinical Pastoral Education is interfaith/interreligious professional education for ministry and requires students to be willing to provide or learn to provide patient-centered support that fully respects, honors, and supports a client’ s religious/spiritual/cultural needs. It brings theological students and ministers of all religious/spiritual/humanist traditions (pastors, priests, rabbis, imams, and others) into supervised encounter with persons in crisis. Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, as well as the feedback from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves and the people they serve. From theological/philosophical reflection on specific human situations, students gain a new understanding of ministry. Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, they develop skills in interpersonal and interprofessional relationships. 

What is Spiritual/Pastoral Care? 

Just as the theory and philosophy behind modern pastoral care are not dependent on any one set of beliefs or traditions, spiritual/pastoral care itself is guided by a broad framework. This involves personal support and outreach and is rooted in a practice of relating with the inner world of individuals from all walks of life. 

We encourage you to take the time to visit our website to learn more about the important work we do at Oregon State Hospital https://www.oregon.gov/oha/OSH

If you fulfill the most current educational requirements of ACPE, Inc., you will earn four units of CPE through ACPE, Inc., The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education, which is nationally recognized as an accrediting agency in the field of clinical pastoral education by the U.S. Department of Education. The OSH CPE program has been in existence since 1957, providing high-quality clinical education in spiritual care over the decades.

What You Will Do

Oregon State Hospital (OSH) invites applications for our full-time, 12-month Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Residency, accredited by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE, Inc.). This residency offers interfaith training in spiritual and pastoral care within a state-operated forensic psychiatric hospital.

CPE Residents will deliver compassionate, trauma-informed care to patients, staff, and families while participating in structured education, theological reflection, and clinical supervision.

• Provide direct spiritual care to clients, families, and hospital staff, based on the patient’s personal belief system
• Conduct spiritual assessments and consult with interdisciplinary care teams
• Facilitate Treatment Mall spiritual care groups and interfaith/interreligious services
• Collaborate with staff chaplains, clinicians, and outside religious leaders
• Participate in weekly CPE group learning, individual supervision, and feedback
• Complete all educational requirements for each ACPE unit during the residency
• Contribute to the mission of providing hope, safety, and support in recovery by providing interfaith pastoral services aligned with the belief system of each individual patient

What We Are Looking For

Minimum Qualifications: These qualifications must be reflected in your application for consideration.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Completion of or degree in-progress for graduate-level theological education or formal religious training (equivalents may be accepted)
• Official endorsement or sponsorship from a recognized religious or spiritual organization (where applicable)
• At least three (3) years of full-time experience as a religious leader in a formal setting (e.g., parish, temple, mosque, congregation, etc.) or relevant clinical/institutional experience

Desired Attributes: The following are desired attributes that we have identified as key to success for this role at OHA. These are the attributes we are looking for in our top candidate. If you have any of these, please let us know in your application.

• Previous experience in chaplaincy or clinical settings
• One unit of CPE (preferred, not required)
• Demonstrated capacity to support others from diverse spiritually-orienting systems  with humility and respect, rather than judgment. (This requires professional competency and is a moral imperative in a diverse patient environment)
• Strong interpersonal, team, and communication skills
• Capacity for personal reflection, supervision, and growth
• Ability to receive and integrate feedback for improved ministerial functioning and professional growth
• Ability to function effectively in emotionally intense environments
• Cultural and religious literacy that allows for the support of patients without assumptions when engaging in the delivery of pastoral care, while refraining from proselytizing or imposing your own worldview
• Applicants from historically underrepresented religious or faith-based organizations are strongly encouraged to apply (e.g., Muslim, Hindu, Pagan, etc.)

Application Guidance

Your candidate profile and application are your opportunity to showcase your skills and interest in this role. Submissions will be reviewed for clarity, consistency, and communication skills, and for alignment with the guidance provided in the requirements listed below. You must first complete the ACPE application for the CPE Residency Program, with the instructions below and then complete your OSH application in Workday (instructions under OSH submission requirements).

To apply for the 2026-2027 CPE Residency Program:

Complete the ACPE application form, available at www.acpe.edu. Submit the following documents via email:

• Completed ACPE application form with attached required essays listed on the form
• Resume/CV
• Cover letter detailing your qualifications and interest in the residency

Submit ACPE Application Materials to:
Rev. V. Ruth Schulenberg, PhD, MDiv, ACPE Certified Educator
Email: v-ruth.schulenberg@oha.oregon.gov

OSH Submission Requirements:

• Resume – Attach your current resume that clearly outlines your education and work experience relevant to this position.
• Cover Letter (Required) – A cover letter is required and will be reviewed and considered during the selection process.
• Supplemental Questions – Answer all supplemental questions completely and accurately.
• Final Check! – Before submitting, confirm that all required materials are included, and your Workday Job History is current. The information in your application will be used to complete an Equal Pay Analysis to determine salary placement upon hire. Visit the Equal Pay Analysis Webpage for more information.

How to Apply:

• External Candidates:  Visit the State of Oregon job opportunities webpage or click the “Apply” tab above to submit your application, following all submission requirements.
• Internal Candidates: Current State of Oregon employees must apply through their employee Workday login, following all submission requirements.

After You Apply:

• Complete any pending tasks in Workday under “My Applications” prior to the application deadline.
• Check your email (including junk folder) and Workday inbox regularly for updates on your application.

Reminders:

• Eligible veterans and Oregon National Guard servicemembers (current and former) who meet the qualifications of the position will be awarded candidate preference. To protect your information and ensure correct processing, please follow the instructions for submitting your Veterans’ Preference documentation.
• Please download and save a copy of this job announcement and linked position description, as it is not available after the application deadline.

About the Team & Benefits of Joining

We offer a workplace that balances productivity with enjoyment and  promotes an atmosphere of mutual respect, dedication, and enthusiasm. You will collaborate with a team of bright individuals to work with and learn from.

If you're driven by the passion to do something meaningful that changes lives, the Oregon Health Authority is the place for you. We also offer a competitive benefits package including:

• Excellent, low-cost medical, vision, and dental coverage for you and your family.
• Optional benefits like life insurance, disability coverage, deferred compensation, and FSA options for health and childcare.
• Generous paid time off: 11 holidays, 3 personal days, monthly sick leave, and vacation accrual starting at 8 hours/month.
• Potential eligibility for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• Retirement security through Public Employees Retirement System (PERS)/Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan (OPSRP).
• Training and development opportunities to grow your career with the State of Oregon.

Additional Details

• This announcement is for 6 full-time, limited duration (12 months), SEIU represented, Student Professional/Technical Worker Classification (0150), salary range 11, based in Salem, Oregon.
• This is an on-campus position. “Review Section 4: Working Conditions” in the position description (linked above) for more information. All clinical and educational hours must be conducted on-site and on-the-clock.
• Employment is contingent upon a criminal records check and drug screen that meets OHA criteria at the time of hire and throughout employment.
• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying range. If the successful candidate qualifies for PERS, the salary range will increase by 6.95%. For more information, see the Classification and Compensation page.
• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an education institution during the application process.
• This position does not provide visa sponsorship. Within three days of hire, you will be required to complete I-9 documentation and confirm authorization to work in the United States. OHA will use E-Verify to verify work authorization. If your employment eligibility depends on sponsorship now or in the future, you will not meet the requirements for this position.
• We evaluate candidates based on their own skills and experience. Unless explicitly approved, outside resources – including Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools – are not permitted during assessments or interviews. Use of unauthorized resources will disqualify a candidate from further consideration. Successful candidates admitted into the CPE program are allowed only limited and strictly defined use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or Large Language Models (LLM) in their clinical and educational work. Failure to abide by the AI/LLM or other policies can result in dismissal from the program without educational credit.

Contact Information
Recruiter: Melissa Perez
Email: melissa.m.perez@oha.oregon.gov
Phone (text friendly): 503-949-3078

Accommodation Requests (ADA): OHA provides reasonable accommodations under the ADA, which may include alternative formats of materials or language support. If you need accommodation to apply for this position or participate in the selection process, please contact the recruiter listed above.

Helpful Links & Resources

How to Set Job Alerts | Workday Applicant FAQ | Oregon Health Authority | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Veterans Resources | What You Need to Know to Get the Job

The Oregon Health Authority is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer, committed to fair employment practices and pay equity for all employees. We do not discriminate based on protected class – including race, sex, veteran status, disability, age, color, religion, national origin, marital status, or sexual orientation – and does not screen applicants based on current or past compensation. Salary is determined through a fair review of your education, experience, and training as it relates to the position.

OHA is an anti-racist organization working to eliminate health inequities and dismantle structural barriers that impact underserved communities. Join us in advancing our Strategic Plan and building a more equitable Oregon.