Lombard Mennonite Peace Center offers workshop on leadership and anxiety
Lombard Mennonite Peace Center is again offering its workshop "Leadership and Anxiety in the Church: A Family Systems Perspective" from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 24.
Since the publication of Dr. Edwin Friedman's "Generation to Generation," many pastors and other church leaders have become aware of Bowen family systems theory as a way of understanding congregational dynamics. Family systems theory identifies differentiation of self and anxiety as two key variables impacting human functioning.
The online seminar looks at the challenge presented by the rising levels of anxiety being experienced in churches today, as well as the role that self-differentiated leadership can play in calming such anxiety. The seminar is comprised of a series of PowerPoint presentations originally conceived for the center's "Advanced Clergy Clinic in Family Emotional Process."
Works of art illustrating biblical themes from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque eras are integrated at various points to facilitate theological reflection on the themes being presented.
The seminar is being offered by the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center as part of its ongoing mission to help Christ's church grow in health and wholeness, into all that God wants it to be.
From 9 to 10:15 a.m. as part of "The Road to Damascus: The Church and Change in an Age of Anxiety," find out about "Anxiety in Action: A Congregational Case Study," "Linear Cause-Effect Thinking vs. Systems Thinking," "Distinguishing Between Acute Anxiety and Chronic Anxiety," and "Understanding the Roots of Anxiety Societal Anxiety: Its Impact on the Church."
From 10:30 a.m. to noon as part of "They Know Not What They Do: The Scapegoat Mechanism and Church Conflict," learn about "The Scapegoating Process in Church Systems: Case Studies," "The Family Projection Process in Bowen Theory," "The Scapegoat Mechanism in the Work of René Girard," and "Reflections on Christ's Passion in Art: Exposing the Scapegoat Mechanism to the Light."
From noon to 1 p.m., there will be a lunch break.
From 1 to 2:30 p.m., "The Importance of Not Being Earnest: Reversals, Playfulness, and Paradox" will talk about "Understanding Triangles and the Importance of Maintaining a Non-Anxious Presence," and "Murray Bowen and Edwin Friedman on Reversals, Playfulness, and Paradox: Video Clips of the Masters at Work."
From 2:45 to 4 p.m. as part of "The Road to Damascus: Lessons for Leadership in Anxious Times," learn more about "The Conversion of Paul in Art: Learning from Paul's Experience with Radical Change," and "Self-Differentiated Leadership: A Key to Overcoming the Impact of Anxiety."
This workshop will be conducted online via Zoom video conferencing. Registrants will attend on their computer. A link will be sent to all registrants shortly before the event begins. A manual will be shipped to the registrant's street address prior to the event.
The early-bird registration fee by Sept. 11 is $109. After Sept. 11, the fee is $139. Fee includes training manual. Register at lmpeacecenter.org/events-page/lac/.
Church group discounts are available. When 4 to 6 persons register together by Sept. 11, the fee is $99 per person. For groups of 7 or more, the fee is $89 each. All discounts for individuals or groups expire on Sept. 11. When registering for a group, be sure to have all contact info handy for each individual especially the email address needed for the Zoom link because you will have a limited amount of time to complete the registration process. For questions, contact the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center at (630) 627-0507. For a brochure with the full information for this event at lmpeacecenter.org/brochures/.