Healthy Congregations, Inc.

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.

Workshop 1 – Thursday, February 25

Will focus on EMOTIONAL TRIANGLES.  We will spend time looking at triangles, the reason they are so pervasive, the ways to de-triangle, as well as to use triangles more constructively.

Workshop 2 – Thursday, March 25

Will explore the tension between OVER FUNCTIONING AND UNDER FUNCTIONING in any emotional system.  This is a particularly important concept for leaders of congregations to understand.

Workshop 3 – Thursday, April 22

Will consider the PROCESS OF  EMOTIONAL TRANSMISSION within families of origin, current nuclear families, the congregation, and the whole trans-generational system.

Our workshop series leader, the Rev. Dr. John Martin Mann, seminary pastor at Luther Seminary, is a lifelong student of human behavior. 

The educational credentials of Dr. Mann are impressive.  He holds a B.A. in Social Sciences from Clarion University, a M.Div. in Pastoral Care from Duke Divinity School, a Th.M. in Pastoral Psychology from Duke, and a D.Min. from Wittenberg University and the Ohio Theological Consortium.

He has studied extensively in Faith Development theory with James Fowler and Family Systems Theory with Rabbi Edwin Friedman.  In addition, he has studied with Peter Steinke and Larry Foster.  He currently serves on the faculty of Larry Foster’s Clergy Seminars (a Family Systems Church Study and Coaching training process). 

Dr. Mann has facilitated clergy groups in Ohio prior to coming to the Twin Cities.  He is active as a consultant and clergy coach in the Twin Cities area and on the East Coast.

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE

9:00 a.m. -  4:00 p.m.

Location

Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota  (seminary website | map)

Cost

$50 per workshop or $125 for all three days.  Cost includes the noon meal.  Make checks payable to the Minneapolis Area Synod and mail to:

Questions?

Contact Roger Schwarze, 651-777-5102 or by email.

This workshop is sponsored by the Bridge Builder Team of the Minneapolis Area Synod (ELCA).