The 20th Annual
Leadership Series
2025-26
"Going the Distance:
20 Challenging & Rewarding Years"
The Leadership Series is an opportunity for leaders across professions (pastors, religious leaders, educators, administrators, and health professionals) to enrich and expand their ability to apply principles of systems thinking to self, family, and organizations. The year is composed of seminars that promote in-depth thinking throught the lens of Bowen Family Systems Theory. The seminar includes plenary presentations, application of systems theory to workplace and family, and small group coaching. Practical application of theory through working with a coach for an extended period of time is at the heart of systems thinking.
Registration Opens May 19, 2025
GETTING STARTED
2025-26 Leadership Series Application Process
We invite all participants to do some thinking prior to the start of the program by completing an application and preparing a family diagram of three generations. The application is a series of questions to prepare you for the perspective and process of the program. Resources for completing the family diagram are available. For "new" applicants, a conversation with one of the group consultation facilitators will follow the receipt of your application.
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Please download and complete the correct application, and submit it along with your three generation family diagram to:
office@healthycongregations.com
A non-refundable deposit of $50 that will be credited towards your registration cost is due at the time of application.
Application for NEW participants, or those last participating prior to 2022.
Application for CONTINUING participants.
How to Build a Family Diagram
Guidelines for the Family Diagram
ONLINE SEMINAR SERIES
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SCHEDULE (1:00 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern)
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1:00- 2:30 p.m.: Broadening perspective through the lens of systems theory (Part 1)
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2:30 - 3:00 p.m.: Break
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3:00am - 4:30 p.m.: Broadening perspective through the lens of systems theory (Part 2)
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*Monthly online coaching groups will be scheduled by the consultation group during orientation. (3.5 hours monthly)
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Online participants will receive a link to watch the "Lunch" Video presentation at their convenience.
DATES
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​Thursday, September 18, 2025 (Orientation)​
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Thursday, November 20, 2025
Thursday, January 15, 2026
Thursday, February 19, 2026
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Thursday, April 16, 2026
​Special Event & Leadership Series Capstone May Event: TBD​
Location
Online via Zoom
IN-PERSON SEMINAR SERIES
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SCHEDULE (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Eastern)
8:30- 10:00 a.m.: Broadening perspective through the lens of systems theory (Part 1)
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10:00 - 10:30 a.m.: Break
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10:30 - 12:00 p.m.: Broadening perspective through the lens of systems theory (Part 2)
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12:00 - 12:30 p.m.: Lunch
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12:30 - 1:30 p.m.: Bowen video presentation
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1:30 - 2:30 p.m.: Small Group Coaching - Workplace application
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2:30 - 3:00 p.m.: Break
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3:00 - 4:30 p.m.: Small Group Coaching - Family of Origin (FOO) group
Location: TBD in Central Ohio
DATES
​Friday, September 19, 2025 (Orientation)
Friday, October 17, 2025
Friday, November 21, 2025
Friday, January 16, 2026
Friday, February 20, 2026
Friday, March 20, 2026
Friday, April 17, 2026
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Special Event & Leadership Series Capstone May Event: TBD​
MONTHLY TOPICS...Coming Soon!
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September 18/29, 2025: Orientation
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October 16/17, 2025:
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​November 20/21, 2025:
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December - No Meeting
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January 15/16, 2026: ​
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February 19/20, 2026: ​​
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March 19/20, 2026:​​
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April 16/17, 2026:
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May TBD:
Special Event and Leadership Series Capstone - details forthcoming
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REQUIRED READING​
These books are essential to the Leadership Series:
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Bowen, Murray (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson. (Read Chapter 16, Theory in the Practice of Psycotherapy, for Orientation; Other chapters for other presentations - to be announced)
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Creech, R. Robert (2019). Family Systems and Congregational Life: A Map for Ministry. Grad Rapids, MI: Baker Publishing. (Reccommended to Read Part 1 for Orientation)
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Harrison, Victoria (2018). The Family Diagram and Family Research: An Illustrated Guide to Tools for Working on Differentiation of Self in One's Family. Houston, TX: Center for the Study of Natural Systems and the Family.
- This book can be ordered from the Center for the Study of Natural Systems and the Family.
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Kerr, Michael (2019). Bowen Theory's Secrets: Revealing The Hidden Life of Families. New York, NY: W.W. Nortone​
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Highly Recommended Readings:
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Kerr, M. & Bowen, M. (1988). Family Evaluation: The Role of the Family as an Emotional Unit that Governs Individual Behavior and Development. New York, NY: W.W. Norton.
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Laymon, B. (2023). All the Families of the Earth: Therapists in Bible Times. Eugene, OR: Resource Publications. (Healthy Congregations Member Network 2024 Book of the Year).
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Additional readings will be added before and after sessions throughout the year, and will be provided.
SEMINAR SERIES FACILITATORS
Emlyn Ott is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and has served as a parish pastor, campus minister, pastoral counselor, leader, and seminary professor for over 25 years. She was named CEO and Director of Healthy Congregations, Inc. in 2005. She holds a Master of Divinity from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago, a Doctor of Ministry from Phillips Theological Seminary, and is a Clinical Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors. She has participated for nine years in postgraduate work at the Center for Family Process and the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family and is currently part of Research Group at the Bowen Center.
Anthony J. (Tony) Wilgus, faculty emeritus from the University of Findlay, taught social work for 28 years subsequent to a 10-year stint as a clinical social worker and administrator. After graduate school at the University of Michigan, he entered the post-graduate training program at the Georgetown Family Center from 1979-1981. Since that time, he has attended the annual symposia, presented numerous papers, and published manuscripts on a wide range of topics rooted in the family theory originated by Dr. Murray Bowen.
Dana Runestad recently retired from pastoring in the Southeast Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America where, since 1986, she has served in a variety of congregations and staff positions. She's a youngest sister of three brothers and the daughter of a pastor and a nurse. After relying on every Peter Steinke book to get her through thirty years of parish ministry, she took a deeper dive into Natural Systems Theory in 2015 with 3 years in the post-graduate program at the Bowen Center in Washington D.C. From 2018-2023 she participated in their Faith Leaders Seminar. She's been in a book club for over 20 years and enjoys hiking and good TV with her husband of forty-plus years, Barry Rabe. They have two grown sons. Dana rhymes with banana. If you need a visual to remember, ask to see her tattoo.
Jennifer Long is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, a trained interim minister (IMN) and currently serves a UCC congregation in Florida. She has previously served churches in Wisconsin, Michigan, and New York, including pastoring an ELCA congregation in the southern tier of New York as an ecumenical partner. She graduated from the University of Hartford (1992) and Eden Theological Seminary (1996). She has participated in a variety of programs that engage Bowen Theory including five years in the Postgraduate Program at the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family (2014-2019). In almost 30 years of ministry, she has served in staff, solo, and interim roles as well as a consultant in church conflict.
Wife, mother of two, oldest sister of four, and daughter of an only son and middle daughter, she has a particular interest in points of connection between Bowen Family System Theory and spirituality, religious practice and church conflict.
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COST ​
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Tuituion for Online and In-Person participants is the same.
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The $50 non-refundable Application Deposit will be credited toward your registration costs.
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If using the papyment plan option, a deposit of $200 is required at registration. The balance of the fee is due prior to the start of the first session. (A September and January payment option is available.)
RATES
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Early Bird Registration (Before August 1, 2025): $1,350 per person (includes $50 application fee)
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Individual Registration (Beginning August 1, 2025): $1,500 per person (includes $50 application fee)
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Group Discount Rate*: $1,350 per person (includes $50 application fee per person)
*"Group Discount" applies to three or more individuals from the same organization or household
Payment Plan Option:
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$50 application fee & $200 Registration Fee due at time of registration
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$625 payment due by September 11, 2025
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$625 payment due by January 8, 2026
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DETAILS​
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Registration includes full participation in the eight month program as well as access to a systems coach in small group sessions.
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Registration includes a free 1-year membership in the Healthy Congregations Member Network, a free book of the year, and access to the Members Area of the website (a $105 value).
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Registration includes participation in the May 2026 Special Event and Leadership Series Capstone.
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Individual coaching (with one’s small group coach) is available at a reduced rate.
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No reimbursement or credit for missed sessions.
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The registration cost is refundable (less the Application Deposit) until two weeks prior to the first seminar.