Research Guides: Practical Ministry Recent Acquisitions: RPC Organizations and Conferences

RPC Academic Organizations

American Academy of Religion
The American Academy of Religion is the premier conference for the academic study of religion. RPC students frequently present in the Psychology, Culture and Religion group, as well as in Practical Theology, and various theology and ethics groups.
Southeastern Conference for the Study of Religion (SECSOR)
This is the regional conference of the AAR. Vanderbilt students often present or provide leadership in organizing the groups and panels.
Society for Pastoral Theology
This group of pastoral theology professors and practicioners is considering the primary professional guild for RPC.
Association of Practical Theology
Students in the Theology and Practice program have affiliation with this guild.
Psychology and the Other
This conference is only a few years old but involves leaders in the field of psychology and philosophy. RPC students often present at this conference.
International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry
This conference is not an RPC conference in itself. However, it is about critical methods in qualitative inquiry generally, and its annual schedule includes a Special Interest Group Day on Critical and Poststructural Psychology.

American Association of Pastoral Counselors
This national organization certifies pastoral counselors like our Professors of Practice.
Association of Professional Chaplains
Several of our RPC students and faculty have worked as chaplains before, during, and after their time at Vanderbilt.
Institute for Congregational Trauma and Growth
This organization provides resources and advocacy for congregations to help in the process of recovery from trauma.
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
This organizes the CPE requirement for many denominational ordination processes.
Association for Theological Field Educators
International Council on Pastoral Care and Counseling

To recommend a relevant conference or organization that you do not see here, please contact:

Laine Walters Young, Bibliographer for Religion, Psychology, Culture

Jill Brown, Librarian, Divinity Library

Wabash Center for Teaching and Learning
This center focuses explicitly on teaching and learning in theology and religion.

Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee
Many of our students complete their Clinical Seminar hours through the PCCT.
The Pastoral Center for Healing
Vanderbilt faculty and former students serve as counselors here.
The Scarritt Bennett Center
The Scarritt Bennett Center is located a block from Vanderbil's campus. It offers spiritual enrichment programming among its many offerings.
Tennessee Association of Pastoral Therapists
TAPT is the local association of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. Many of our faculty and former students are actively involved in this organization.