Clinical Pastoral Education
CPE Leadership
Leadership
Clinical Pastoral Education Certified Educator Candidate
David Stackhouse is a native of the Ozarks in Missouri and has lived in Texas, Colorado, Florida and Michigan. He earned a BA in Communication Studies/Rhetoric from the University of North Texas, followed by an MA in Intercultural Ministry from Dallas Theological Seminary, a ThM in World Religions from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and a Master of Health Care Administration from Capella University.
David is currently busy finishing his PhD in Practical Theology from Columbia International University, navigating the certification as a CPE Educator and plans to finish his licensure as a Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapist.
Before entering the healthcare field, David cultivated leadership and organizational skills as a consultant for franchise companies and nonprofits. He also worked eight seasons with the Dallas Mavericks and coached Junior College Basketball at Navaro College (famous for where the Netflix hit series ‘Cheer’ is filmed).
David’s chaplaincy journey began with a CPE residency at UT Southwestern Medical Center, specializing in the Cardiology ICU. While becoming a Board-Certified Chaplain, he worked as a Staff Chaplain at Baptist Health South Florida, where he launched The Spirituality in Healthcare Research Center. He currently serves as well as a Certified Educator Candidate and Director of Pastoral Care and CPE at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services in Grand Rapids, as well as an Adjunct Professor at Denver Theological Seminary.
David’s approach to chaplaincy, teaching and research is shaped by narrative, imagination, and cultural and relationality-based theories, grounding his work in the power of story, creativity and connection across diverse contexts. He is a Contemplative Christian endorsed and ordained by the Order of Universal Interfaith.
David is a ‘3’ on the Enneagram, a natural researcher and professor who also claims his lighter side as a grill master, Disney lover, Ravenclaw, future Jedi, and X-Men wannabe—a mix that reflects his conviction that learning and leadership thrive where curiosity, imagination, play and joy meet.
David and his wife, Abigail, are raising two daughters, Kinsey and Weslie, along with their rescued French Bulldog, Bella.
Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor
Rev. Dr. Karl VanHarn is the Director of Pastoral Services and CPE at Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services. He is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church. He has served churches in Littleton, Colorado and Jenison, Michigan. He has also served as a Chaplain in general hospitals in Denver and Santa Rosa, California. He worked with Pine Rest CPE from 1995 to 2004, while serving as a Chaplain at Wedgwood Christian Services. He has been an ACPE Certified Educator since 1998.
Rev. Dr. Karl has a DMin from Western Theological Seminar (Holland, Michigan), an MDiv form Calvin Theological Seminary (Grand Rapids, Michigan) and a BA in Philosophy from Calvin College (Grand Rapids, Michigan).
He is married to Joanna, and they have two children, Joseph and Miriam.
Clinical Pastoral Education Mentor, ACPE DMin Program
Dr. Dennis Kenny was educated at Capital University and Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary in Columbus, Ohio. He received his M.Div from ELTS.
Dr. Kenny studied at Andover Newton Theological Seminary in Boston, receiving both a Master’s of Sacred Theology and a D.Min, Cum Laude. He was certified as an ACPE Educator in 1972. He worked in hospitals as a CPE Educator in Michigan, California at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, and at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Kenny served as Regional Director for ACPE for over 10 years, covering five states. In California he was the founding director for the Institute for Health and Healing that became the largest Integrative Medicine program in the country. At the Cleveland Clinic he started Code Lavender, a team response for patients and staff in crisis.
Dr. Kenny has training in psychology and organizational development, and also in fundraising.