flourishing Archives - ��Ƶ of Theology & Psychology

Resilient Leaders Project Releases a Second Research Report: Flourishing in Service

��Ƶ — Wed, 09 Sep 2020 15:10:10 +0000

��Ƶ of Theology & Psychology has released its second research report to come from Resilient Leaders Project (RLP)—a report that describes what flourishing leadership and contextually-responsive ministry look like through a series of alumni profiles, all peer-identified as “exemplars in resilience.”

“In the , we looked at the big picture of what Christian leaders need to move beyond surviving the challenges of ministry into growing and experiencing grace in the midst of those challenges. For our second study, we wanted to pay attention to the stories of people who we’d seen flourish in ministry,” said , Researcher for Resilient Leaders Project and primary curator of the Flourishing in Service research report.

“Our questions were big,” said , Director of Resilient Leaders Project. “How do Christian leaders serve in post-Christendom contexts? How do leaders sustain themselves? But those questions couldn’t be answered by a big view alone. We wanted to know how leaders navigate relationships and service in this context. So we decided to talk to a few.”

What is ministry today? And, because we care deeply about the wellbeing ministry leaders, we’re asking: What does it take to flourish in service?

The report began to take shape as Andrea and Kate asked their peers at ��Ƶ to identify those who exemplified service in ministry, especially those who were doing so in interesting and unique ways. Upon selecting and interviewing a group of individuals, the Resilient Leaders Project team coded and noted the themes that resonated both within and across interviews, thus forming the foundation of the report’s conclusions. In addition to the conclusions, we are also sharing the profiles of these leaders, as the specifics of their stories inspire a broader imagination for ministry possibilities.

“This focus on the stories of individuals is important because so much of the work we do in Resilient Leaders Project is helping leaders look at their own stories to build self-awareness, self-compassion. We find that looking at your own story actually helps you see and participate in the bigger picture of the work of the Spirit in the world,” noted Andrea.

In sharing this report, desires to help the Christian community by identifying the themes that will equip others to pursue their own resilience and by articulating patterns about what effective ministry looks like now in a post-Christendom United States.

“The distinction between Christianity and Christendom was really important for us,” said Kate. “We’re based in Seattle, which has often been cited as one of the ‘most post-Christian’ cities in the United States — but our experience doesn’t match that. […] We see lots of flourishing ministry here; it’s just rooted in a different understanding of the relationship between the church and culture. In many ways, the stripping away of the dominance of Christianity has allowed truer forms of faith to emerge. So, what does it mean to serve in a post-Christendom context? What does it mean to love your post-Christendom neighbor? What is the shape of Christian community in post-Christendom contexts? These leaders give us some early glimpses and offer their experiences to help expand leaders’ imaginations for how to move into post-Christendom relationships with faith, hope, and love — and authenticity.”

You can read the Flourishing in Service research report here.

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5th Annual Symposia Videos: Part Two

��Ƶ — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:48:51 +0000

A few months ago, the school gathered in a form of a “homecoming” to hear our alumni present on flourishing at our fifth annual Symposia. This year the theme centered around what it means to truly flourish. Today, we’re sharing the second half of their presentations, each inviting us to pause and reflect on the insightful, evolving work of our alumni and how they embody text.soul.culture outside our walls.

To Hide and to Heal
Kate Hoskin (MACP ‘17)

“The return to the First Love is not a movement back to God, but a movement towards God and ourselves with the pieces of our lives.”

In her presentation, Kate reframes the prodigal narrative as a sabbatical that allows for a more complete return, using images from South Korean artist Cheoul-Shin Kang to depict the retreat and return.

Internalized Racism and the Racial Empathy Gap
Richard Kim (MDiv ‘10)

Richard engaged the impact of internalized racism and how it misguides even the most sincere attempts to related across human differences as equals throughout his presentation.

Connection to the Wild Feminine
Laura Wade Shirley (MAC ‘02)

In her presentation, Laura looks at the connection, or lack thereof, to the feminine body. She discusses how women’s bodies, in particular the pelvic bowl, hold so much, yet they often have an ambivalent attachment to their very being.

Attunement to Your Self
Sarah Steinke (MACP ‘19)

“Living into the flourishing you were meant for requires recognizing those places, and welcoming them home, to the place in you that is already whole.”

Sarah guided a conversation that listened to the wholeness of one’s self and to the parts seeking connection in order to bring them into an attuned, reparative relationship.

Open Therapy—Send and Receive Ethical Client Referrals
James Waggoner (MACP ‘16) and Conner Cress (MACP ‘18)

James and Connor created an online platform called Open Therapy that helps manage the client-therapist referral process. In their presentation, they discuss how this platform grew out of the concept “flourish” and how it streamlines a critical process for those seeking help.

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5th Annual Symposia Videos: Part One

��Ƶ — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 23:58:27 +0000

A few months ago, the school gathered in a form of a “homecoming” to hear our alumni present on flourishing at our fifth annual Symposia. This year the theme centered around what it means to truly flourish. Today, we’re sharing the first half of their presentations, each inviting us to pause and reflect on the insightful, evolving work of our alumni and how they embody text.soul.culture outside our walls.

A Case for Embodiment: Reframing Anti-Oppression Work
Grace Rock (MACP ‘14) & Elise Hale-Case (MACP ‘15, MATC ‘16)

Grace and Elise, using Resmaa Menakem’s book “My Grandmother’s Hands” and other, similar sources, explored how we can refocus anti-oppression work towards deeper embodiment, resilience, and healing, beginning with a trauma-informed lens.

A New Life After Death
Andrew (MACP ‘10) and Christy Bauman

Andrew and Christy bring their vulnerability and heartache as they explore flourishing after loss in their presentation.

Can Female Anger and Subversion be an Element of Spiritual Flourishing?
Charissa Bradstreet (MDiv ‘04)

Using examples from her own life and journey, Charissa sheds light on how our culture continues to view women’s anger and subversion and turns to scripture and tradition to see if any of those themes can be found.

Flourishing After Suffering
Kate Davis (MDiv ‘15)

Kate, also the Director of the Resilient Leaders Project, seeks to help others understand how pain, failure, burnout, and grief are all part of the path to flourishing.

Heroic Allies: Roleplaying Games As Gateways To Playful Flourishing
Phil Doud (MDiv ‘13)

Phil discusses how roleplaying games can be a powerful tool for someone’s growth, creativity, and community. Heroically is also the name of Phil’s life coaching practice, designed to help people in helping professions by providing opportunities for play and creativity.

Stay tuned for part two featuring the second half of our alumni presenters, exploring topics such as internalized racism, the weakness of God, and attuning to your self.

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flourishing Archives - ������Ƶ of Theology & Psychology

Resilient Leaders Project Releases a Second Research Report: Flourishing in Service

5th Annual Symposia Videos: Part Two

To Hide and to Heal Kate Hoskin (MACP ‘17)

Internalized Racism and the Racial Empathy Gap Richard Kim (MDiv ‘10)

Connection to the Wild Feminine Laura Wade Shirley (MAC ‘02)

Attunement to Your Self Sarah Steinke (MACP ‘19)

Open Therapy—Send and Receive Ethical Client Referrals James Waggoner (MACP ‘16) and Conner Cress (MACP ‘18)