Academic Training

In the first year, classes meet on Monday mornings with four 10-week required Systems Theory courses from September through July, with 2 hours of the year-long Clergy Seminar in the afternoon. The Seminar format provides a process for bringing theory, theology, and practice into sharper alignment, which requires an ongoing commitment.

The Seminar offers clergy an opportunity to share experiences and reflect on their own functioning within their congregation’s emotional system. Clergy will discuss the integration of the models taught in their morning classes with their pastoral and congregational ministry, along with discussing the functioning of the clergyperson as a leader.

The following are the topics the clergy cohort will engage with their peers and CFR’s distinguished faculty on:

• Work on self-regulation
• Understand specific patterns of family and relationship interactions as described by Family Systems Theory
• Observe relationship systems
• Learn to apply Systems Theory to one’s self and to one’s family of origin
• Acquire a conceptual systemic framework for understanding human functioning
• Understand the application and integration of theology with Systems Theory
• Acquire confidence in managing self amid reactivity and sabotage, stuck or stirred up congregations, triangles, conflicted relationships, static organizations, shrinking attendance and budgets, seduction for the “quick fix,” and family disruptions

The Clergy Seminar

The seminar will provide a peer-learning and peer-mentoring experience where participants share life and ministry experiences. The seminar will examine the various systemic models, comparing and contrasting them with the Bowen Theory, along with Edwin Freidman’s application of Bowen Theory to the leadership and the person of the clergy.

Along with a didactic review of the models, participants will also regularly present their family-of-origin work along with ministry case consultations. The seminar’s theory, coaching, and peer-coaching experience fosters re-examination of roles, functioning, and relationships through differentiation.

Graduates of the Congregational and Family Systems Program have the option to continue in their second year with the monthly Monday morning seminar to engage in ongoing self-reflection and exploration with their peers of how systemic principles impact themselves and their congregation.