Mission

To enhance the pastoral arts and sciences by publishing The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling and related materials and by providing communication services in the areas of pastoral care, counseling, and education.

Mission History (see also the diagrammatic presentation of this history)

The Journal dates its origin back to 1947 when the Journal of Clinical Pastoral Work, published by the Council for Clinical Training, and The Journal of Pastoral Care, published by the Institute of Pastoral Care, began publishing separately. In 1950, the two groups joined together to publish The Journal of Pastoral Care. The Council for Clinical Training, Inc, the Institute for Pastoral Care, The Association of Clinical Pastoral Educators and the Department of Institutional Chaplaincy and Clinical Pastoral Education of the Lutheran Council in the U.S.A. merged to form the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE) in 1967, and the Journal ownership was transferred to ACPE.

In 1969, the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, Inc (AAPC), began purchasing subscriptions for its members. The Canadian Association for Pastoral Education (CAPE) did likewise in 1972. Then ACPE invited AAPC and CAPE each to name a member to the Journal’s Board of Managers.

In 1982, the Board of Managers invited other pastoral care groups to join in publishing The Journal of Pastoral Care. The Association of Mental Health Clergy, Inc, the American Protestant Correctional Chaplains, Inc, and the College of Chaplains of American Protestant Hospital Association, Inc, joined in this publications corporation.

The formation of The Journal of Pastoral Care Publications, Inc, is the result of deliberations of these founding pastoral care groups. Its mission is to continue providing a forum through publications for sharing professional knowledge, experience and innovative developments in pastoral ministries. Currently 6 pastoral associations are involved in support and ownership of JPCP Inc and name the members of the Board of Managers of JPCP Inc

In addition to publishing The Journal of Pastoral Care & Counseling (name change instituted in 2003), JPCP Inc looks after distribution of, and advertising for, Reflective Practice: Supervision & Formation in Ministry(formerly The Journal of Supervision & Training in Ministry) and The Journal of Pastoral Theology. Since 1988, JPCP Inc has published a dozen books and monographs and is currently developing several manuscripts for publication via “print on demand.”

JPCP Inc is a registered not-for-profit corporation in the state of Georgia. JPCP Inc’s Business Office is located in Decatur, Georgia.