By Timaeus Reed
Goodwin Living welcomes Jonathan R. Fisher, D.Min. as Director of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE). A retired U.S. Army Chaplain with more than two decades of service, Jonathan brings deep experience in trauma-informed spiritual care, leadership and education across medical, correctional and military contexts.
As one of the few senior living communities in the nation to offer ACPE-accredited CPE, Goodwin Living provides a distinctive setting to learn compassionate spiritual care with older adults and their families. We spoke with Jonathan about his journey, his teaching philosophy and what students can expect from the program.
Hi Jonathan. Please introduce yourself!
My name is Jonathan R. Fisher. I am the new Director of Clinical Pastoral Education here at Goodwin Living. I come to this work after a 21-year career as an active-duty U.S. Army Chaplain. I retired as a Lieutenant Colonel.
My career took my family and me across the United States with postings in Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Washington state, Kansas and Maryland. My last posting was Director of Clinical Pastoral Education East at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. I have three combat deployments to Iraq, and one of my favorite and most challenging positions was serving as chaplain at the United States Correctional Complex at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
I love being a chaplain. Over the years this role has changed in both responsibilities and professional training. I started, as all Army Chaplains do, in battalion ministry. I have served in Infantry, Aviation, Ordinance and Air Defense Artillery battalions. I have also been a Brigade Chaplain with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and proudly wear the Screaming Eagle.
My institutional roles included the U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and the U.S. Army Institute for Religious Leadership Graduate School. I was privileged to be selected to train as a Certified Educator as an Army Chaplain and have directed two established programs and started another. I am both an educational professional and a trauma-informed spiritual care provider.
My spouse, the Reverend Sara Nave-Fisher, is the senior minister at University Christian Church in Hyattsville, Maryland. We have three teenage children and a little dog named Schuyler.
My educational work has focused on ministry. I hold a B.A. from Pensacola Christian College in Music and Theology, a Master of Ministry and a Master of Divinity from Luther Rice College and Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry from Erskine Theological Seminary.
I am one of twelve kids. I grew up in western Michigan among farmers. When I was a kid I wanted to be a firefighter or a soldier, and I achieved at least one of those.
Sometimes being a leader can feel a lot like fighting fires. If you come by my office at Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads, I am sure I will share stories of my Army service in grand veteran style, and I would love to hear your stories as well. I like to get out on the water in my canoe or kayak and I enjoy working with wood.
What drew you to your role at Goodwin Living’s Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program?
I was drawn to this program through the work of the previous educators, Dan Duggan and Liz Pomerleau. I have deep respect for each of them as educators and colleagues. Liz and I worked together to re-establish the DMV Certified Educator Candidate peer group, which is one of the only CEC peer groups meeting in person in the nation. Through that work I was introduced to the Goodwin Living CPE program and was impressed with its professionalism and desire to serve. When I was preparing for retirement and Liz was preparing to move forward in her career, it was an easy decision to come to Goodwin Living and continue the strong work of this program.
What should interested applicants know about Goodwin Living’s CPE program?
We train lay people, clergy and professional chaplains. Our program offers accredited Level I and Level II CPE units as well as Certified Educator Candidate training. We offer in-person units and hybrid online units. Our focus is professional development, and our graduates are prepared for the chaplain board certification process. Professional chaplaincy starts here at Goodwin Living CPE.
How does your personal philosophy on Clinical Pastoral Education influence your work at Goodwin Living?
My philosophy of Clinical Pastoral Education is this: effective CPE arises from excellent spiritual care practice. When I use the word “spirituality,” I am referring to the connection a person feels to ideas that bring meaning and purpose to life. This may include elements of religion or religious practice and often includes other activities and belief systems. A spiritual care provider supports these connections to enhance spiritual life in the same way a physician supports physical healing and a social worker supports mental health.
This whole-person approach shapes my educational practice because a spiritual care provider can only do this work when they bring their whole self to it. Because spiritual care often takes place where trauma, suffering and existential crisis are common, a CPE student must address the traumas, griefs and crises in their own life first. In this way CPE is education that can feel therapeutic.
After 21 years of trauma-informed spiritual care in combat, prison and medical centers, coming to Goodwin Living has been a slowing down for me. The fast world I knew has been replaced by a gentle and reflective approach. I did not realize how much I needed Goodwin Living. It is a place where students can safely engage their learning, their healing and their development into the professionals the field needs.
Can you speak to the program’s commitment to educate on diverse faith traditions?
Goodwin Living CPE celebrates the diversity of religious and non-religious traditions that come through our program. We have educated many expressions of faith. Our current group includes Inter-spirituality, Islam and Christianity, including Anglican, Presbyterian, Southern Baptist and UCC/Queer theology. We actively build groups that are diverse in religion, faith tradition, race, culture, socioeconomic background and other factors.
We believe human beings are diverse in experience and spiritual expression, so our education prepares chaplains to meet those needs. Our curriculum helps student chaplains understand their own theological or philosophical approach and integrate that into their spiritual care practice.
What is it like working with older adults compared to other populations? What are the unique benefits and challenges?
I spent the last 21 years working with soldiers and chaplains who are, by the nature of the work, young or middle-aged. Entering this new environment is a place of learning for me. Life is slower here, which is a delight, and it is reflective.
I have been thinking about James Fowler’s Stages of Faith, a classic in spiritual care literature. He outlines six stages of faith that people tend to inhabit in their spiritual journey and connects them to age. The last stage, which he calls Universalizing Faith, describes a person who treats others with compassion and sees people as part of a universal community guided by love and justice.
This perspective often appears later in life as people gain a broader view of the world. It brings a willingness to offer grace and understanding. It can also bring the perspective that we have been here before and made it through, which is a form of resilience. I have seen that quality as I get to know the Goodwin Living community. It has been wonderful so far.
Start Your Next Chapter in Clinical Pastoral Education!
Goodwin Living CPE helps emerging and experienced spiritual care providers grow in competence, confidence and compassion while serving older adults and families. If you are ready to begin a unit, explore a residency or learn about Certified Educator Candidate training, visit our CPE page to see upcoming sessions and apply.
______
Timaeus Reed is a Marketing and Communications Specialist at Goodwin Living. He plans, writes and designs for internal and external campaigns that support all areas of the organization. He relocated to D.C. to join the team in the summer of 2021. When he isn’t getting lost in traffic, Timaeus loves listening to live Go-Go music and stand-up comedy.
