Healthy Practices for Ministry:
Parishioners Are Not Your Enemies
Rev. Dr. Wayne E. Gustafson will address the universal problem of how to minister to controlling, imposing, negative, possessive, bullying church members. T
his event is not focused on how to keep "them" in line, rather how to offer effective pastoral care to those whose troubles are expressed in their behaviors. He will give perspectives on:
- Assumptions we all carry in pastoral ministry
- How to discern conscious or unconscious motivations that underlie behavior
- The usefulness of knowing the history of the congregation
- The dynamics of developing trust
- How does an understanding of unresolved trauma help in pastoral ministry.
The event is only $35...free for pastors who retired from ministry.
Lunch is optional and is $10.
Registration deadline is Saturday, May 18.
Rev. Gustafson is an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, a Certified Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, in process of transitioning to ACPE Psychotherapist, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in New York. Presently, he is a contract pastoral counselor and psychotherapist with Susquehanna Family Counseling Ministry (a mission of the Susquehanna Association, UCC).
Dr. Gustafson is a graduate of Cornell University with a BA in Chemistry and has Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry (Psychology and Clinical Studies) degrees from Andover Newton Theological School. He teaches Pastoral Care courses for the New York School of Ministry and leads workshops for clergy and laity. He has also been a prison chaplain, an interim minister, and an adjunct instructor in Psychology at Tompkins Cortland Community College. He is the author of two novels, Community of Promise: The Untold Story of Moses and The Wisdom Weaver, both set around the time of the Exodus.
Every person engaged in active authorized ministry with standing in the Living Water Association is required to complete a Healthy Practices for Ministry every two years.