ACPE is committed to maintaining high standards of ethical behavior in its programs and by its members. That commitment is evidenced in the ACPE Code of Professional Ethics. The Association recognizes that complaints alleging infractions of the Code by members will be made from time to time by those who work with, are taught by and/or served by ACPE members. That reality necessitates a thorough, balanced and fair process for addressing allegations. This manual provides the guidelines that the Professional Ethics Commission or its designee uses adjudicating complaints alleging violation of the ACPE Code of Professional Ethics.
*CONSENT: Persons participating in an ACPE accreditation, certification, ethics, or appeal process consent to that process as described in relevant ACPE materials and give permission for the disclosure of information and materials from one ACPE process to another ACPE process if, in the determination of ACPE representatives, that should be necessary for ensuring compliance with ACPE standards. When one process makes referral to another, the referring body may be asked for additional information and will be informed of the work of the commission to which the referral was made. The Inter Commission Referral Form is an appendix in both the Accreditation and Certification Commissions’ Manuals. Click here for the Inter Commission Referral Form.
*Note: Definition of Terms is an important companion document. Please review it carefully for definitions of relevant terms; they are essential to interpretation and use of The Processing Complaints of Ethics Code Violations in ACPE.
*Note: all references to CPE throughout this document are understood to be ACPE Certified Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE-CPE).
