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News » CFR Receives $20,000 Grant to Support Clergy Training in Therapy

CFR Receives $20,000 Grant to Support Clergy Training in Therapy

A digital graphic for a press release from Council for Relationships. The background is turquoise, with a large purple speech bubble containing the words "Press Release" in bold white text. Above this, "Council for Relationships" is written in a mix of serif and script fonts. Below the speech bubble, white text announces that Council for Relationships has received a $20,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to support clergy training in therapy.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Council for Relationships Receives $20,000 Grant from E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation to Support Clergy Training in Therapy

Philadelphia, PA – 1/30/2025 – Council for Relationships (CFR) is honored to receive a $20,000 grant from the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation. This funding will support CFR’s Congregational and Family Systems Academy, a specialized training program designed to equip clergy with the tools to enhance their pastoral leadership and spiritual care.

The grant will provide up to 15 financial aid packages for clergy enrolling in one of CFR’s primary clergy certificate training programs. Additionally, it will help offset costs associated with course instruction and program administration, ensuring more faith leaders have access to professional development in systemic theory, self-reflection, and congregational case study discussions.

CFR’s Chief Clinical Officer Emma Steiner, MSW, MFT, LCSW, shared that, “Council for Relationships has been training and supporting clergy practically since its inception. We believe that our expertise in systemic therapy is deeply relevant to the professional experience of clergy members and their congregations. The training we provide to clergy members is both important to them and to the communities they care for.” Steiner went on to state, “We are so honored that the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation understands the importance and are investing in the work that we do. We are very grateful for their support.”

“We are deeply grateful for the Carpenter’s Grant, which has made this year’s Congregational and Family Systems Cohort possible, providing a unique space for clergy to engage in pastoral reflection on self, family, and ministry within a small, supportive group,” explained Dolores Littleton, DMin, LMFT, Director of CFR’s Congregational and Family Systems Academy. “The cohort is off to a great start, fostering critical thinking about all aspects of life and leadership through the lens of systemic models.”

The E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation, established in 1975, funds initiatives in theological education, the performing arts, and projects that promote inclusion within faith communities. Their continued support aligns with CFR’s mission to strengthen interpersonal relationships through accessible and expert clinical training, therapy, and research.

For more information about the Congregational and Family Systems Academy, visit: https://councilforrelationships.org/congregational-family-systems-academy-certificate-program.

About Council for Relationships

Council for Relationships is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening interpersonal connections through specialized therapy, clinical training, and research. With over 80 therapists and psychiatrists across nine offices and community-based locations in the greater Philadelphia area, CFR provides expert mental health care for individuals, couples, families, and communities.

Media Contact

Michael Fasano-McCarron (he/him/his)
Director of Communications & Development
215-382-6680 x3160
mmccarron@councilforrelationships.org