NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Jan 4, 2016) - Reverend Susan G. Turley is Chaplain with the Department of Veterans Affairs, Maryland Healthcare System (VAMHCS) and the Supervisor for the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE) at VA Perry Point, Maryland.
In her supervisory role, Reverend Turley developed and manages the Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) program, a multi-cultural, interfaith training program in Chaplaincy, leading to board certification in professional Chaplaincy and/or Ordination. CPE is also an education and training program for faith leaders who wish to further develop their skills and/or theory in both Chaplaincy and Spiritual Care.
Susan Turley earned a Master of Science Degree in Education/Counseling from Suffolk University, Boston, Massachusetts before completing 2 years of postgraduate training in Family Systems Therapy. Reverend Turley completed the coursework necessary for a Master of Divinity Degree in Religion with a concentration on the development and execution of interfaith community support systems for returning Veterans and their families. In addition, Reverend Turley also earned certification in social work while working on her M.Div. at the Swedenborg School of Religion, currently known as the Swedenborg House of Studies at the Pacific School of Religion.
Reverend Susan Turley was ordained in the Swedenborgian Church in 1980, becoming one of the first women to be ordained. An accomplished watercolor artist who uses her art as a therapeutic tool to help heal emotional wounds, Reverend Turley has also traveled to Italy to study art and painting in order to bring an additional dimension to her work.
After Susan Turley was ordained, she worked as a Pastoral Counselor at Turley and Associates Counseling Center in Newton, Massachusetts. Reverend Turley then moved on to serve 3 parishes in Portland, Maine and Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. In the early 1990's, she accepted a position and entered into Hospital Chaplaincy work as she earned her certificate as an A.C.P.E. Supervisor in 2001 .
Amassing 30 years of service, Reverend Susan Turley has developed and honed her skills and expertise in several areas of ministry. Ministering to the spiritual needs of Veterans, their loved ones and extended families, mentoring women through their personal, career, and professional development, assisting and counseling individuals battling grief, loss, trauma, addiction recovery, end of life care and faith/spiritual growth and advocating for suicide prevention and education are just a few of the areas she addresses on a daily basis.
Suicide Education/Prevention and Veterans Support Services are areas of ministry Reverend Susan Turley holds close to her heart. In 2006, she and her husband of 37 years, lost their only son Pfc. Keith Jesse Moore during his service in the U.S. Army in Iraq. Pfc. Moore as well as 22 other Veterans per day, die by suicide; a sad and astounding statistic.
Taking this tragedy and using it to honor her son and all Veterans, Reverend Turley became extremely active in suicide prevention and education by making a documentary called "Broken Hearts Lifted Spirits: Mothers of the Fallen Speak Their Truth", a film about mothers who have lost their children in the Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) Wars. This film is an effective educational and discussion-provoking tool and is offered with a group facilitator's discussion manual. This film is a useful resource for teaching individuals effective methods to help them become a valuable support and presence for those working their way through the loss of a loved one to war. It also serves as an instructional tool to raise awareness of the impact war has on our Veterans; the lives of the spouses, loved ones, family, employers; and society as a whole. Reverend Susan Turley uses this film at her lectures and speaking engagements throughout the year and as part of her Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) curriculum.
As part of her professional career, she was the Founding Director for a non-profit ministry dedicated to supporting individuals affected with AIDS. Through Living Waters HIV Ministry in San Francisco, Susan Turley counseled those affected with HIV and AIDS on a one to one basis, along with their families and caregivers. As part of her ministry at Living Waters she did home, hospice and hospital visits throughout the San Francisco area; she collaborated services for clients and their families with other service agencies, caregivers, hospital and faith communities; as well as conducted many memorial services. Additionally, Reverend Turley has counseled victims of violence, those recovering from the ravages of addiction and the homeless; all as part of a San Francisco area interfaith effort.
Reverend Susan Turley has received the National Association of Professional Women's (NAPW) V.I.P. Woman of The Year Award "...for outstanding excellence and dedication to her profession and the achievement of women". Additionally, she devotes a fair amount of her spare time to working with the Gold Star Mothers, an organization offering support services to mothers who have lost sons or daughters during war.
In addition to being a Gold Star Mother, Reverend Susan Turley is a pastor, chaplain, mentor, educator and counselor. She was part of the National Council of Churches, Clergy Women's Peace and Reconciliation group, traveling to the Holy Land, Jordan and Israel to meet and discuss peace efforts with faith leaders of all traditions. Reverend Turley has for many years, been a sponsor for foster children through Children International and she supports numerous Veterans' organizations as well as environmental efforts around the globe. Over the years, she has shown and sold her artwork, hoping and praying that it will help bring peace and healing to others.
Using her considerable gifts, extensive experience and numerous talents to help others grow and heal is the soul of Reverend Susan Turley.
Ministering to and counseling the Veterans, the homeless, the desperate, the sick, the grieving, the victims of violence, those who have lost their faith and many other individuals, has been Reverend Susan Turley's life mission. Educating and training others to be agents of comfort, healing and spiritual light, she continues in her dedication to making a brighter, more beautiful world.
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