Training the Trainers: ECS is Championing the Future of Professional Chaplaincy

(Top Left) Certified Educator Candidate, Ashley Mangrum, with Chaplain Intern Students Ryan Sorensen, Steve Wrigley, and Heather Sullivan

Across the country, demand for professionally trained chaplains continues to grow. Hospitals, hospice agencies, correctional facilities, and community institutions are increasingly recognizing the critical role that skilled chaplains play in holistic care. But there’s one significant challenge: there simply aren’t enough trained chaplains to meet this need.

Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is actively addressing the chaplain shortage—not just by training chaplains, but by training the certified educators who will shape the next generation of spiritual care leaders.

At the heart of this effort is Rev. Dr. Mariclea Chollet, Director of Education & CPE at the ECS Spiritual Care & Education Center, and a respected leader in national chaplaincy circles. Recognizing the need for a pipeline of qualified educators, Dr. Chollet led the effort of securing a $120,000 grant in late 2024 to expand ECS’s certified educator training program. This bold initiative is not just preparing new chaplains—it is forming the educators who will train them, which multiplies ECS’s impact across the country.

The ECS Spiritual Care & Education Center at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City, is the only CPE Center in Utah that is accredited by ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education.

There are three Certified Educator Candidates and one Certified Educator Student that are now being mentored through the ACPE accredited program, each positioned to become fully certified educators equipped to lead Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) programs of their own. Among them is Rabbi Ari Einhorn, based at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City. Ari first joined ECS as a CPE Resident in 2022 and transitioned to the chaplain educator training program in 2024.

“The decision to become a Certified Educator grew out of my own transformative CPE experience. I wanted to support others in discovering their potential as chaplains.”

Rabbi Ari Einhorn

ACPE Certified Educator Candidate

Dr. Chollet supports students who want to support others, often saying that it is about forming a sacred learning community that nurtures growth, depth, and meaning.

Ari’s journey is guided by Dr. Chollet and by veteran Certified Educator Andy Stubblefield. Her training combines academic study, practical application, and real-time co-education with chaplain interns. In group supervision sessions, Ari and Dr. Chollet complement one another’s styles, providing interns with a rich, multifaceted learning environment.

“Working alongside Mari is a privilege,” Ari says. “Her depth of experience and compassionate leadership have shaped my development immensely. I also receive valuable support from Andy and the entire ECS community.”

Collaboration is central to the program’s success. Ari meets weekly with fellow students in a vibrant peer-learning cohort. Together, they share projects, offer feedback, navigate challenges, and receive regular mentorship from the ECS education team.

While the program is demanding, Ari credits her growth to both its rigor and its support system. “This journey requires real dedication,” she explains. “Having a balanced life—including hobbies, and meaningful relationships—is vital. Self-care also makes me a better educator.”

ECS’s commitment to developing future chaplain educators is nothing short of visionary. Through this program, ECS is not only meeting a workforce need—it is shaping the very future of chaplaincy. Leaders like Ari Einhorn embody that vision: passionate, reflective, and ready to guide others on the sacred path of spiritual care.