CSCPF prides itself as being a relational community where the locus of professional development, accountability and collegiality occurs in small groups, practitioner communities and 1:1 relationships.  The following guidelines for Leave of Absence (LOA) and Retirement status intend to maintain our core values of care, connection, community and accountability.  

LEAVE OF ABSENCE 

Any certified member in good standing may request a Leave of Absence from his or her Practitioner Community.  CSCPF has established the following guidelines for Practitioner Communities to follow regarding member request for Leave of Absence. 

1. Certified members of all categories may request a Leave of Absence (LOA) for up to 24 months, which may be renewed once.  The request must be made in writing to the Liaison of the member’s practitioner community and be affirmed by the PC. If granted, the member requesting a LOA will choose or be assigned a pastoral colleague from within the PC. It is expected that the pastoral colleague and member on LOA will maintain a collegial and pastoral relationship, including at least one telephone contact each quarter, throughout the duration of the LOA. The pastoral colleague maintains the connection between the LOA member and the PC.  At the end of the first 24 month LOA, the certified member may make a written request for a second LOA of up to 24 months. This request must be affirmed by the PC. The relationship with the pastoral colleague shall continue as in the first LOA period. No certified member shall be on LOA for more than 48 months in one 60 month period of time. 

2. When the certified member ends his or her LOA, the individual must meet with the Practitioner Community for a dedicated consultation.  The intention of this consultation meeting is to update the PC of professional and personal matters in the life of the individual, renew connections and understandings regarding the PC and address any matters of professional development, clinical knowledge and concerns that may arise. Upon completion of this consultation meeting, the PC will affirm the conclusion of the certified member’s LOA status. 

3. The Liaison of the PC will forward the certified member’s written request and the PC’s affirmation of LOA status to the President of CSCPF within 10 days of the PC’s action.  If the certified member’s LOA is required as part of remedial action resulting from a decision of the Certification Team, Ethics Team, Fiduciary Council or employer, this information must be made known to the PC and to the President of CSCPF.  

4. The Liaison of the PC must forward a notice documenting the conclusion of a certified member’s LOA. 

5. If the certified members time of certification renewal occurred during the time of his or her LOA, then the recertification process must be completed prior to the certified member’s full status is restored. 

6. The CSCPF directory will note that the individual’s status is “Certified-LOA” during the time of his or her LOA. 

7. Leave of absence would include the member paying their CSCPF and PC dues.

RETIRED STATUS

Retired status is available to all members of CSCPF.  An individual may self-designate themselves retired when they leave professional paid employment, positions of sustained volunteer ministry or simply when one wishes to step outside engaged participation in CSCPF. A Retired Member may not be employed for more than 850 hours in any 12 month period.  

There are two kinds of retirement status: Active and Inactive.  Retired members who retain their CSCPF certification are Retired-Active Members. If a retired certified member intends to engage in active pastoral ministry in a setting where their certification as a Certified Chaplain, Pastoral Counselor and/or Supervisor is utilized as part of their ministry, then they must be designated as Retired-Active members.  

Retired-Active members must maintain their certification requirements according to the standards of CSCPF. Professional Fees for Retired-Active are ½ regular fees. 

Retired-Inactive members are those who wish to remain part of the CSCPF Community but who will not need or utilize their professional certifications in any form either under employment or as a volunteer. 

If an individual who self-designates as Retired has had his or her credentials removed by disciplinary action, the individual may only be designated as Retired-Inactive and may not practice pastoral ministry which requires or implies professional certification. 

Individuals who hold the standing in Retired-Inactive are not considered professional certified members of the CSCPF Community. 

Since CSCPF is built upon Practitioner Communities, all Retired Members must be part of a Practitioner Community.  Retired members who do not wish to partake in a traditional practitioner community may join the General CSCPF Practitioner Community. All retired members must have a pastoral colleague with whom they are in relationship and active connection.  

If a Retired Supervisor desires to come back from retirement to active duty.  That Supervisor should be approved for re-entry by a group of supervisors designated by the Standards committee.