Ordination
- August 10, 1986 in Chicago, Illinois
Education
- Doctor of Ministry, cum laude, May, 1999. Phillips Theological, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Project: “The Search for Shalom in the Parish: Conflict Processes in Theory and Practice”
- Clinical Residency in Family Systems, Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, 2007-2008; Leadership Scholar, 2008-2010
- Participant, Center for Family Process (Friedman Center) Clergy Consultation Groups on Emotional Process, 2003-2007
- Internship in Pastoral Psychotherapy, 1991-1994. Southwest Institute for Religion and Psychotherapy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Master of Divinity, 1986, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
- Clinical Pastoral Education, 1984, London, England: St. George's and The Maudsley Hospitals
- Graduate Studies, 1979-1981, University of Chicago, Theology, Religion and Psychological Studies
- Bachelor of Arts, Religion and Sociology, 1978, The College of Wooster (Wooster, Ohio)
Professional Experience
2005-present
Assistant Professor of Ministry and Pastoral Leadership; 2006-2007, Acting Director of Contextual Education, Trinity Lutheran Seminary, Columbus, Ohio
2006-present
Chief Executive Officer and Director, Healthy Congregations, Inc.
1986-2005
Pastor, Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church and Campus Pastor, Oklahoma State University, 101 South Duck St., Stillwater, Oklahoma 74074
August 2003-August 2005
Supervisor, Parish Clergy Supervisory Group, Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, ELCA
August 2002-August 2005
Supervisor of two Luther Seminary internship students, one fieldwork student from Phillips Seminary, one internship student from The Lutheran Church in Great Britain
August 2003-August 2005
Co-Executive Director and Staff Counselor; Stillwater Interfaith Counseling Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma
September 2001-August 2005
Staff Counselor, Stillwater Interfaith Counseling Center, Stillwater, Oklahoma
2001-present
Licensed Professional Counselor, Oklahoma State Department of Health
September 1994-August 2000
Contract Counselor, Southwest Institute for Religion and Psychotherapy, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1996-present
“Bridgebuilder” and “Healthy Congregations” consultant
1980-1982
Training Program, Pastoral Psychotherapy Institute (currently the Pastoral Counseling Center), Park Ridge, Illinois. Certificate in individual psychotherapy
1980-1981
Assistant Resident Head, Woodward Court, University of Chicago
1978-1979
Administrative Intern for Dean of Students Office, and Director of Compton Hall, College of Wooster
Committees
August 2009-present
Chair, Leadership Development Committee, Midwest Region, American Association of Pastoral Counselors
January 2007-2008
Advisory Board, “The Vocation of First Call Congregations Project,” Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Vocation and Education Unit
September 2006-present
Faculty Concerns Committee, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
September 2005-present
Contextual Education Committee; January, 2008 – present, Chairperson, Contextual Education Committee, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
September 2005-September 2006
Faculty Representative, Life Together, Trinity Lutheran Seminary
January 2001
Pastor-in-Residence, Lutheran School of Theology, Chicago, Illinois
1994-2005
Board Member, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
1997-2001
Board Member, Samaritan Interfaith Counseling Center, Inc., Stillwater, Oklahoma
1997-2005
Member, Advisory Board, “Healthy Congregations” project, Lutheran Brotherhood and Thrivent Financial for Lutherans
1988-1992
Clergy representative to Synod Council, Arkansas-Oklahoma Synod, ELCA
Professional Organizations / Memberships
- Member, Association of Theological Field Educators, 2006-present
- Clinical Fellow, American Association of Pastoral Counselors, 1994-present. (Diplomate credential in progress)
- Certified Pastoral Counselor, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, 1994-present
- College of Chaplains, United Ministry to Oklahoma State University, 1989-2005
Seminary Course Leadership
- “Triangles and Self-Differentiation,” Doctor of Ministry Independent Study, Spring and Fall, 2010
- “Nursing Leadership and Family Systems,” Independent Study with Capital University Graduate Student, Spring and Summer, 2010
- STM Thesis Advisor, 2008-2010 (Two students focusing on ministry and leadership)
- “Transition into Ministry” Spring, 2009
- “Pastor as Leader” Fall, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- Directed Studies –“Family of Origin and Its Implications for Pastoral Leadership,” Spring, 2010; “Family Systems and Congregational Life,” Spring, 2010, “Practicum in Congregational Leadership” Spring, 2009; Spring, 2008; “Resilient Congregational Life” Interim, 2006; “Conflict Processes in Congregational Life” Spring, 2006
- “A Family Systems Approach to Congregational Life” MN 2661, Summer, 2006; Summer, 2008; Summer, 2009; Summer, 2010; (Summer, 2011)
- “Pastoral Leadership in Ministry and Mission” MN 3002, Winter, 2006 (Co-taught with Professor Brad Binau)
Community / Educational Presentations
- “A Time for Every Purpose Under Heaven” Director and Host at the 12th Annual National Gathering of Healthy Congregations, Inc., October, 2010, Nashville, Tennessee
- Workshop Presenter (with Dr. Robert Creech) at LifeServe National Conference, September, 2010
- Faculty, Luther Academy of the Rockies, June-July, 2010
- “Leader as Change Agent”, Presentations for Southern Ohio Synod Leadership Institute, April, 2010
- Keynote Speaker, First Call Rostered Leaders Conference, Indiana-Kentucky Synod, May, 2010
- Leadership Series (Area Clergy, Business, Health and Education Professionals) September-May, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 affiliated with Healthy Congregations, Inc. Monthly theory sessions with small group family of origin and work system coaching
- Family of Origin Groups – January-May, 2006; January-May, 2007, January – May, 2008; February-May, 2009; February-May, 2010; February-May, 2011 - Trinity Lutheran and Bexley Hall Seminaries
- “Leadership on the Line” at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, January 2009 and 2010 – Consultation with Professor Ronald Heifetz
- Presenter, Director and Host, “Triune Brain Theory: New Terrain for the Brain” 11th Annual National Gathering of Healthy Congregations, Inc., October, 2009, Marriottsville, Maryland
- Keynote Presentations, “Who is My Family’s Keeper?” Director and Host, 10th Annual National Gathering of Healthy Congregations, Inc., October, 2008, Columbus, Ohio
- Consultations and Family Systems Coaching on Health, Leadership, Mission and Community Development (2006- present)
- Keynote Speaker, Virginia Synod ELCA Rostered Leaders Conference, October, 2007
- “Healthy Leadership: Living with Nerve”, 9th Annual Healthy Congregations Advanced Workshop, October, 2007, Columbus, Ohio (Director and Host)
- Facilitator and Trainer, South Dakota Synod (ELCA) Faith Builders Continuing Education, August, 2007
- Pastor in Residence, Lakeside Lutheran Chautauqua, July, 2007
- Keynote Speaker, East Central Wisconsin ELCA Synod Assembly, Green Bay, Wisconsin, June, 2007
- “From Bowlby to Bowen and Beyond: Attachment and Loss from a Systems Perspective” 8th Annual Healthy Congregations Advanced Workshop, October, 2006, Scottsdale, Arizona (Director and Host)
- Indiana Kentucky Professor Leadership Event, Keynote Speaker, September, 2006
- “Peacemaker: Centered Life, Centered Work, Centered Church” presented at Spiritual Center of Maria Stein Retreat House, March, 2006.
Retreats, Educational Processes and Presentations
Trinity Lutheran Church, Valparaiso, Indiana (March through February, 2011); Devotional Leader, Christmas Festival at Capital University (December, 2009); Lay Academy for Mission, Northwestern Ohio Synod, ELCA (November, 2009); Incarnate Word Lutheran Church, Rochester, NY (August, 2009); Trinity Lutheran Church, Battle Creek, Michigan (June. 2009); Trinity Lutheran Church, Manhattan, Kansas (May, 2009); Women’s Retreat, Messiah Lutheran Church, Reynoldsburg, Ohio (May, 2009); Central States Synod, ELCA (April, 2009); Contextual Education Directors Meeting, Tampa, Florida (March, 2009); Westminster Presbyterian Church, Nashville, Tennessee (March, 2009); “Love, Respect and Intimacy” Conference for Northwest Lower Michigan Synod-ELCA (January, 2009); “Systems Theory: Why It’s Important” Columbus Area Religious Leaders (January, 2009); Consultation with Bishops of the ELCA on Sexuality and the Church (December, 2008); St. Paul’s, Columbus (May, 2006; November, 2006; February, 2007); Shepherd of the Hills Church, Laguna Niguel, California (January, 2007; June, 2007); Toledo Lutheran Coalition (June, 2007); North Central Ohio Pastor’s Conference (April, 2007) Seminar for Graduate Conducting Students, Ohio State University School of Music (February, 2007); North Community Lutheran Church (October, 2006); Interim Ministry Network Annual National Meeting (May, 2006); Summer Sampler Program, Trinity Lutheran Seminary (June, 2006); St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church (August, 2006); Ohio Multi-Synodical Candidacy Retreat (August, 2006); “Storms Rage About Us” Lakeside Theological Convocation Presentations, September, 2006; “Ethics and Spirituality,” Guest lecturer in graduate class on counseling, Oklahoma State University, November , 2003; “Sexuality and the Church,” Guest lecture in undergraduate class on psychology, Oklahoma State University, (April 2000 and 2001); "Who Says Women Can't Preach," Week of Challenge Keynote Speaker, Valparaiso University, April 13, 1994.; "The Church and Sexuality," participated as panelist. Sponsored by Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Alliance renamed SODA in 2000, Oklahoma State University (September, 1992; November, 1993; October 2002; September, 2003); "The Church and Mass Media." Presentation and discussion in graduate-level speech and communications class, Oklahoma State University. (April, 1992; May, 1993; April, 1994); "Women in Ministry." Presentation in Introduction to Women's Studies class, Oklahoma State University. (February, 1992, 1993, 1994)
Publications
- Modules Developed for the Healthy Congregations Workshop Series on Pastoral Transitions, Boundaries, Self-Care and Family of Origin (expected completion: May, 2011)
- Review of Be Not Anxious, Trinity Seminary Review (expected: Summer/Fall, 2010)
- Review of Pastors in Transition; Trinity Seminary Review, Volume 29, Number 2, Summer/Fall, 2008.
- “Leaving As Process: Toward Differentiation of Self in Pastoral Transitions.” Trinity Seminary Review, Volume 28, Number 1, Winter/Spring 2007.
- “Life in the Land of Unlikeness.” Lutheran Women Today, August, 2003
- "Evangelism, Religious Education and Leadership Development: A response to John Keating." Entree, April, 1992.
- "Women in Ministry." Stillwater News Press, February 1, 8, 15, 22, 1991.
- "Healing in Community." Adult Home Bible Study, Augsburg Press, April, 1990.
Personal
- Born: Rochester, New York
- Spouse: Robert J. Ward
- Interests: singing with Choral Union of Capital University; marathoner-in-training; Sunday news programs; reading contemporary fiction; exploring new recipes; knitting
References
