I am writing this as I sit overlooking the bay in San Francisco, CA. It is the end of The International Congress on Pastoral Care and Counseling (ICPCC). I believe everyone in attendance would agree when I say, "It was a great success." As the Co-Conveners of the ICPCC, ACPE Supervisors George Fitzgerald and Rod Seeger, have represented themselves and ACPE well. The collaboration of four of our regions: the Pacific, Southwest, South Central and North Central, have given to the ICPCC leadership, workshop leaders and attendees all which have led to the success of the congress. As I moved through the crowds the conversations flowed, old friendships were renewed and new friendships were made. I was proud to be the president of this organization as it gave so much leadership to bringing the ICPCC to fruition.

 

In many ways the ICPCC is about the larger community of pastoral caregivers and how we are connected. Workshops were led by those from all over the globe. I went to three workshops. One was led by a New Yorker, another by a South African, and the third by an Australian. We were also given opportunities to be in affinity groups. I attended every one. On the last morning there were only four of us who attended. An Indian CPE supervisor who took CPE in the USA, a Dutch CPE supervisor who was trained in the Netherlands, a local pastor from New York City who completed two units of CPE and was attending her second ICPCC, and me. Each of us had attended all the affinity groups and had grown to have a feeling of relationship. My watch was slow and I was late. When I entered each person gave me facial recognition that they were glad to see me.