Helping Practitioners (through coaching) and helping Organizations and Communities of Faith and their leaders affirm and live into their vocation during times of change and transition, describes the holy work of interim-time. Whether you are feeling confident or unsettled, in crisis or in calm, I believe you know your deep and glad goodness. I also believe you know the profound need your goodness helps make whole. I believe interim-time sets the table to deeply explore, discover, and claim anew your deep gladness in response to your world's need. I believe "being" and "doing" this work depends upon thoughtful, prayerful community conversations. I believe generous hospitality, respectful communality and glad collaboration are heart habits that support this life-giving work. I've been practicing this way of being and doing since I was ordained in 1985. And after all these years, I believe we all benefit from companions for the journey. At it's best my helping nurtures:
-
a generous hospitality - lifting open hearts and minds toward all that feels new, strange, “wrong” or different
-
a respectful communality - abundant courage to join with all that feels "least, lost, and lonely" - persons and ideas - relationships, institutions and communities.
-
a glad collaboration - wholesome intimacy with all the things that make for the past, present and the emerging future
-
emotionally and spiritually mature leadership
-
creative, vibrant, passionate faith communities, organizations, leaders and Practitioners
-
being and doing congruent with one’s "holy" vocation
I believe spiritual and emotional transition and change always arrives at something full of grace and truth. I'm honored and glad to join you in this unsettling/wonderful, tart/sweet, intentional and blessed time!
Essential Education and Credentials
B.A. in Psychology and Anthropology (minor), 1982, Rhode Island College, Providence, RI; an M.Div., 1985, Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary (now Palmer), Wynnewood, PA; Jungian Analysis, 1988-1992, Hartford, CT
Congregational Consultation and Transformation Certificate, 2008-2009; Coaching Certificate, completed 2012. Center for Congregational Health, Raleigh-Durham, NC; Coaching and the Enneagram, Madanes School of Enneagram Coaching, Certificate. 2016 in progress.
PTS (Professional Transition Specialist), Interim Ministry Network
Faculty and Education Team Lead, Interim Ministry Network
Specialist, Association for Intentional Interim Ministry
Publications
Curriculum, age 8 – 16: Residential 12 week American Baptist Camp, RI. 1983/84. Canonicus Camp and Conference Center
Islam: A Primer, Ecumenical Community Resource Booklet, Glens Falls, NY. 2001
Monday Morning Musings, Religious and Social Commentary, The Baptist Temple Web-site, Rochester, NY 2004-2008
The Art of Matchmaking: Candidate Conversations & Interim time- Process During Search and Call
Deep Gladness: Conversation For All
Feeling Untethered: Leading Emotional and Spiritual Transition
Joining Well and Well Joined: Grace Space for Interim-Time Ministry
Newsletters
September 2014 - The Art of Matchmaking
December 2014 - Interviewing for an Interim-time Call? Contract or Agreement: what word do you use?
Courses Taught
Semester Length Community Studies: CT and DE
Affluenza: A Study of Christian Ethics and Consumerism
Miracle and Meal: The Historical Jesus
In Search of A Soul: Christian Spirituality and Mature Faith
When the Sun Rises: Life Transitions, Challenges and Grace
World Religions
Online Web-Based Study
Spirituality of Men, ELI and Vesper Society, NY
Research
Congregational study of exit and closure over a thirty year period and 5 clergy, with particular attention to systemic wounds and their theological implication, IMN, 1998