Family Systems and Christian Ministry & Leadership with Liz Holdsworth
Monday 12th October and Monday 2nd November 10am to 4pm (two day course) at Diocese of York Offices, Amy Johnson Way, Clifton Moor, York YO30 4XT
The day is open to Clergy, 20s to 40s Ministers, Readers others in Ministry, Counsellors and Spiritual Directors who work with those in ministry.
Family Systems Theory and Ministry & Leadership What do these have to do with each other? “The problem with parents is that they had parents …” We have been shaped by the family systems of our childhood, and those of our parents. The extent to which we can choose how we respond to that, and define ourselves in new ways, will determine the nature and effectiveness of our leadership – in our own family, in ministry, in life. Churches contain many family systems, and are in themselves family systems. And the major determinant of the health of a system is the emotional health of the leader. How are you feeling? How are you functioning?
This course will be much more fun than it sounds, but is not for the faint hearted. On the first day, we will explore your family as a system, and your position and role within it, against the backdrop of Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory. On the second day we will consider your ministry case studies, in the light of your family experience and the leadership theory of Edwin Friedman.
It may well change your life. It will certainly be challenging. But it may also enable you to become more fully yourself, find positions within your systems that are less stressful, and enable your leadership to be more effective and resistant to sabotage.
During this course confidentiality will be paramount. There will be a variety of sessions, individual work and small and large group activities. Each person will take responsibility for how much or how little they choose to share. This is not a course based around technique or knowledge, or about how to get other people to do things. Quite the reverse. It is primarily about you – who you are, and how you handle yourself in the world.
Liz Holdsworth was formerly Director of Training, and Director of Mission and Development in the Diocese of Peterborough. For the last ten years she has also been a Training Partner with Bridge Builders and currently leads their Family Systems course, Leading in Anxious Times. Liz was a lay minister for many years in Northampton, where her husband was a parish priest. She now lives in Bridlington, and is very pleased to have come home to East Yorkshire, having grown up in Hull.
There is no charge to participants from York Diocese; for those outside the Diocese the cost is £80 (Cheque payable to ‘York DBF’ send to the address below).
For Further details contact: Rev Andrew De Smet andrewdesmet@btinternet.com 0758 327 9459
Book through bit.ly/TrainingEventsDoY
