Healthy Congregations, Inc.

Healthy Congregations is once again offering a formalized class as part of the summer course offerings of Trinity Lutheran Seminary.  This one-week class will take a broad look at a family systems approach to congregational life and offer the additional opportunity to be trained as a Healthy Congregations facilitator.

Description

This workshop will be presented by Louise Rauseo, RN, CS-P.  Families and clinicians will gain equally from this opportunity to observe the way clinical families apply family systems thinking to a variety of family and individual issues. This includes learning to observe the system while addressing the importance of individual responsibility and personal development in the form of differentiation of self. The basic concepts in Bowen theory will be presented along with the clinical sessions.

Understanding How Systems Function

A series of three workshops has been scheduled to help us understand how we can function better in the systems which we are a part of every day.  Each workshop will look at a major concept in systems theory through presentation and clinical work in small groups.

It is clearer as change and stress escalate that leading of congregations is fraught with emotional challenge.  Knowing where that challenge originates and how it works is valuable for those who have to face it constantly.

These ongoing seminars in natural systems theory are provided to assist leaders in knowing both themselves and the emotional lay of the land in the organizational systems they serve.  Sessions will be structured to provide learning in systems theory (Murray Bowen and Edwin Friedman).  Time will be focused on emotional systems (family, organization, community) and how to lead for success and change.  We will also discuss family of origin issues as they relate to leadership.

These monthly opportunities to think natural systems are intented to form a cultural press to assist leaders in grasping the bigger picture as they face conflict, sabotage, and challenge.  They are designed as a way of thinking for those who seek to lead change and survive.

In these challenging economic times, congregational stewardship drives can sometimes sound like simple fundraising campaigns.  At Healthy Congregations, we think stewardship is about a lot more than just money.

Workshop 5 -- "Healthy Congregations Develop Generous People" -- focuses on developing gratitude and generosity through the ability of the community to make decisions that combine money, resources, abilities and day to day living.

Healthy Congregations is pleased to announce two 2010 facilitator event opportunities for people living in the Appalachian/southeast U.S. area.

• Event 1: Monday-Wednesday, April 19-21, 2010
• Event 2: Monday-Wednesday, September 20-22, 2010

Each event is independent of the other, meaning that you can be trained as a facilitator by attending either event (you do not need to attend both).

Are you a Healthy Congregations facilitator who will be conducting a training event in the near (or even distant) future?  We would like to help you out!  If you contact our office and let us know, we will be happy to post your event in our online calendar of upcoming events.  Also, if you provide us with text/images/video, we can create an article on our website to promote your event.