Our Educator

Education

• Heinrich-Heine University, Duesseldorf (Germany)
• Magistra Artium (MA), German Literature, Linguistics and Philosophy
• Seminary of The Christian Community – Movement for Religious Renewal, Stuttgart (Germany)

Ordination

• The Christian Community – Movement for Religious Renewal, 1999

Certification

• ACPE Certified Educator, since May 2023

Rev. Julia Polter was born and raised in Germany in a non-religious family. Having a great interest in the arts and in philosophy led her to get a master’s degree in philosophy and literature. Throughout her career Julia finds inspiration in areas where spirituality, science and the arts come together. She is ordained as a priest with the Christian Community – Movement for Religious Renewal. Julia has served for more than two decades as a parish priest in congregations in Germany and the United States.

Before moving to Bellingham, Julia was at home in Boston, Massachusetts. There she was educated as a professional chaplain at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a large Harvard Medical School teaching hospital. When she became a member of the spiritual care team, she was invited to start her formation as a Certified Educator Candidate with Kathleen Gallivan, SNDeN, PhD and Rev. Brian Conley, SJ. Julia completed her supervisory training with ACPE Certified Educator Rev. Kevin Park at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center.

The development of the whole human being is as much the concern of her approach to Clinical Pastoral Education as becoming an excellent spiritual care giver. She invites students to be curious about new perspectives and experiences even if they are challenging. Julia finds that creative and contemplative practices are helpful to create a transformative and joyful learning environment, where a good laugh is as important as deep conversation.

Julia is also a trained Spiritual Director and an Emory University Certified Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) Instructor. 

Education University of Arizona
B.S. Political Science 1993
Regent College
Master of Divinity, 2000

Ordination 
Canadian Baptists of Western Canada, 2003

Certification 
ACPE Certified Educator
Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, 2013

The Reverend Kevin J. Park began training as an ACPE Certified Educator Student with the Rev. Delmas Luedke in 2006 after Swedish Medical Center agreed to sponsor St. Joseph Medical Center as a satellite center. SJMC was accredited to offer Level I and Level II ACPE Certified CPE™ as a freestanding center in 2013. In 2021, SJMC was accredited to offer Certified Educator CPE. Kevin grew up in Suriname, South America, the second of four children. His parents were serving as missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators (SIL). Growing up in Suriname gave Kevin a rich and varied cultural experience. Kevin was a hardworking and determined kid who was given a great deal of independence. As with most families, he had both joys and sorrows, challenges and opportunities for growth. After returning to the United States, Kevin completed a degree in Political Science from the University of Arizona. Before entering Seminary, Kevin served in the active-duty military at Ft. Hood, Texas and spent almost 25 years in the WA Army National Guard and has deployed twice to Iraq. Kevin currently serves as a chaplain in the Army Reserves where he supervises units of CPE for Army Reserve and Army National Guard Chaplains. While in Seminary at Regent College in Vancouver, BC, Kevin met his wife. They now have six children and live on five acres with an assortment of animals and small fruit tree orchard. Kevin serves as the network director for spiritual care and mission where he is responsible for ethics, spiritual care and mission and values integration. He loves hiking and camping and being outside. His morning always begins with coffee and quiet which is not easily come by at the Park homestead.