Consultation to Clergy
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Consultation to Clergy
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| Community Notes
The Future of Ministry: Adaptation or Extinction
Ministry in American society is under intense pressure. How clergy and other leaders in the church respond to the pressure becomes critical for the future of ministry and of the church. Murray Bowen noted in 1974 that the level of regression in American society would be increasing as the level of chronic anxiety increased. This regression, he predicted, would lead to an erosion of the level of responsibility. Bowen wrote “Regression occurs in response to chronic sustained anxiety, and not in response to acute anxiety. If there is regression with acute anxiety, it disappears when the anxiety subsides. Regression occurs when the family, or society, begins to make important decisions to allay the anxiety of the moment (p.277).” On Friday morning Dr. Michael E. Kerr, Director of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, will address the eighth concept of Bowen theory, Societal Emotional Process, by relating it to "Symptom Development as Reflecting a Failure in Adaptation" and "Evidence for Emotional Regression at the Societal Level." Friday afternoon Dr. Haught will explore “Evolution and Faith: What Is at Stake?" and "Science, Faith, and the Future". According to Professor John F. Haught, Senior Fellow, Science & Religion, Woodstock Theological Center, Georgetown University, following the example of Jesus, all ministry attempts, at the very least, to find reasons for hope--to help open up a new future to those in despair or those who doubt the worthwhileness of their lives. Helping people find a new sense of purpose is essential to ministry, but in an age of science is it realistic for ministers (or anybody for that matter) to think of human life as having an everlasting meaning? We are each tied into the cosmos in such a way that we cannot honestly separate our personal search for meaning from the question of what's going on in the universe overall. Countless thoughtful people today are convinced that science has dispelled purpose from the universe for good. But if the universe is pointless what does this say about our own lives and the integrity of ministry? These two lectures will ask whether after Darwin and Einstein Christian hope in the future, and belief in purpose is intellectually, and not just psychologically, significant. On Thursday evening Dr. Michael E. Kerr will speak on the potential 9th Concept in Bowen theory. Kerr wrote, "Preliminary work has been done on another concept in family systems theory. This ninth concept incorporates subjectivity into systems theory by defining its function in the emotional process of the individual, of a family, and/or of a society. Since nothing on this concept has actually been published family systems theory is still considered to consist of eight concepts (Family Evaluation p.334)." This potential concept in Bowen theory provides a way for the study of spiritual issues.
The Future of Ministry: Adaptation or Extinction
7 - 9:30pm Thursday 12th February 2009
9am - 5pm Friday 13 February, 2009
At
Pacific Lutheran University
Tacoma, WA
Sponsored by:
Consultation to Clergy
and
Pacific Lutheran University
Speakers:
Dr. Michael Kerr, Director of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family
Prof. John Haught, Senior Fellow, Science & Religion Woodstock Theological Center
Registration:
Thursday evening presentation $20
Friday Symposium $95 Students $60
Friday evening banquet $35
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