Denominational? Non-denomination? Ecumenical? Interfaith?

We get a fair bit of confusion regarding who we are with respect to issues religious denomination and faith. Maybe this will help somewhat.

1. Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center is “Non-denominational.” That means that we, as a group, do not ascribe to a single denominational creed, nor require our members to be a member of a specific denomination.

2. Members of Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center (staff, supervisors, board members) are members of different denominations/churches and are expected to serve within their faith communities. Thus, members are expected to serve “Denominationally” within their church setting, but are expected to serve non-denominationally with Bukal Life.

3. Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center is also “Ecumenical.” This term has different meanings to different people. We understand the term to mean sharing in a common Christian faith. For us, we ensure this by requiring members of Bukal Life to concur with the Apostle’s Creed… an early historical encapsulation of the Christ faith.

4. The College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy (CPSP) and Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) are “Interfaith.” Interfaith means that the CPSP and CPE does not limit themselves to those of the Christian faith. Rather involvement as trainees within this group and program can occur regardless of their faith/creed/religion.

5. Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center, is a non-government organization (NGO) based in the Philippines. The College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP) is a separate organization based in the United States. CPSP-Philippines is a separate organization linked with the CPSP but based in the Philippines. Thus, these are three separate organizations. Bukal Life is connected with the CPSP and CPSP-Philippines through mutual agreements, but are legally independent.

Since Bukal Life is a training center for CPE as certified by the CPSP, we provide CPE training to all and do not discriminate based on the religious faith of the trainees. However, Bukal Life carries out other ministries within the context of non-denominational historic Christian faith.

Itinerary for Visit of Dr. Raymond Lawrence

Itinerary for Dr. Raymond Lawrence, General Secretary of the CPSP, while in the Philippines:
WEDNESDAY, 29 February 2012:
2335 H (11:35pm) – arrival at NAIA from USA
Lodge at Horeb Hotel, St Lukes’ Compound
THURSDAY, 01 March 2012:
0900 H – pick – up at Horeb Hotel for Tagaytay via Brent School in Las Pinas
FRIDAY, 02 March 2012:
1100 H – 1300 H – symposium: Phil Children Medical Center [PCMC], Quezon City
1800 H – Special Event With Dr. Sim & Co
SATURDAY, 03 March 2012:
0830 H – 1500 H: Peer review at ECP National Cathedral, Quezon City
SUNDAY, 04 March 2012:
0900 H: Guest preacher at ECP National Cathedral, SLMC Compound, Quezon City
MONDAY, 05 March 2012:
Symposium: ECP National Cathedral
TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, 06-07 March 2012:
Central Philippines University Engagement, Ilo-Ilo
THURSDAY, 08 March 2012:
Flight back to Manila
FRIDAY, 09 March 2012:
1915 H [7:15pm] Departure for USA

More August Updates

A. Had an important staff meeting today. We are investigating our future role and priority in ministry. Should we be a training institution that provides care and guidance, or are we a care and guidance institution that provides training. Even though these sound the same, structurally there is a great difference. So we are presently investigating this.

B. Annual meeting on September 3rd, after the CPSP chapter meeting.

C. Have planned or have potential gatherings with several other groups in the next few weeks. These include One Sending Body (late August) in Cebu, KCPE (Late September) in Korea, PABATS (early September) in Davao, and CARTS (mid-August).

August Updates

We will be joining “One Sending Body” at the National Missions Conference in Cebu City, Philippines August 26-28. We have a partnering relationship with them, so we are looking forward to this event.

To accommodate this event, we asked CPSP-Baguio and Benguet chapters to move their Quarterly meeting to September 3. Hopefully, it will still be at Cafe Cordillera 8:30am – 11:30am. P200 for breakfast.

Article on Bukal in “Pastoral Report”

Article on Bukal Life and our new relationship with the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy is in “Pastoral Report” the web newsletter of the CPSP.
See the Article

June Updates

1. On May 28th, we held the graduation ceremony for Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). 23 graduates of CPE as well as several more completing a unit of Supervisor-in-Training as well. The ceremony was held at UCCP-Baguio with approximately 85 people joining us on this rainy day. Dr. Sim Dang-Awan, the newly elected President of the Board of Trustees of Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center, gave the graduation address. Afterwards, we enjoyed a nice lunch together.

2. Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center will hold its first CPE Unit One training in Manila. It will start in August, and be led locally by Dr. Sim Dang-Awan and Sr. Sofia Natama. Contact us at info@bukallife.org for more information. We are also in the early stages in arranging for CPE program in Ifugao/Kalinga region. More info to follow soon (we hope).

3. Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center will hold its next CPE training in Baguio the end of June. This will be spread out over a longer period of time than our CPE Intensive program. This is to accommodate those with busy schedules. Contact us at info@bukallife.org.

4. Parenting Seminar will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary School, KM4 La Trinidad on July 14. Training will be led by Ms. Tessa Leones.

5. The next meeting of CPSP-Philippines will be on August 27, starting at 9am at Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. If you have questions about CPSP-Philippines or becoming involved in one of the newly formed chapters, you may contact Ms. Chit Panizales (you can use our email info@bukallife.org, and we will forward it to her).

William & Viola Farrell Symposium 2011 Completed

It was a great day. After months of preparation, the first William & Viola Farrell Symposium of Pastoral Care & Counseling was completed.

We had 105 attend coming from churches, NGOs, schools, hospitals and other organizations. The goal of this series is to provide training that bridges the gap between secular and religious counseling. The goal is to provide people from different fields involved with helping people, to empower them to deal with the psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of their patients/clients.

Dr. Cesar Espineda was the main speaker. He is a Diplomate with the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy. He has graciously taken on a role of mentor for both CPSP-Philippines and Bukal Life Care & Counseling Center. Both of his topics centered on the importance of self-awareness and self-understanding of the counselor.

The first topic was “The Person as a Benchmark for Counseling.” The second was “Transference– Our Un/Conscious Reaction in the Human-Patient Encounter.”

The lectures were also tied to discussions as a whole group, as well as small-group discussion afterwards. Additionally, a cultural performance was provided by Batang, a Cordilleran dance troupe. They did dances from Kalinga, Mountain Province, and Ifugao. Additionally, we had a presentation of artwork by local artist, Rommel Pidaso. The work showed creation of culturally relevant “basura art”, or artwork constructed from garbage. Creation of meaning and beauty from what has been rejected certainly seems to be a relevant counseling metaphor.

We thank all those who attended. Of course we also thank our guest lecturer, our cultural presenters, volunteers, and sponsors.

Group Photo with Dr. Espineda and Members of Bukal Life and CPE

CPSP in Philippines

Article on our team on the website of the College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy.

CPSP Article.