![\"Peter](\"\/news\/images\/steinke.jpg\")
Peter L. Steinke, a Lutheran pastor and counselor who has done nationwide consulting on nurturing healthy relationships in congregations, will give a public address on “Tending to Mission in a Time of Anxiety” 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Mar. 2, in Martin Chapel of the seminary building at Eastern Mennonite University. <\/p>\n
Dr. Steinke, author of nine books including “Healthy Congregations: A Systems Approach,” has done work on the cutting edge of a perspective that recognizes congregations as “emotional systems.” He uses “systems theory” to understand the emotional reactions people have to one another when they come together in congregational settings.<\/p>\n
In his presentation, Steinke will explore how the increasing anxiety in society affects these emotional reactions and how these responses in turn affect a congregation’s capacity for mission.<\/p>\n
During his career, Steinke has started a new congregation in Virginia, a home for emotionally disturbed youth in North Carolina, the Interfaith Pastoral Counseling Center in Illinois, and a clergy care program in Texas.
More recently, in addition to developing the Healthy Congregations Workshops, he initiated the Bridgebuilder Ministry, a training program for churches in conflict.<\/p>\n
Steinke is conducting a Mar. 1-3 “Healthy Congregations Facilitator Training” workshop at EMS, designed to help persons conduct similar workshops in congregations of all sizes.<\/p>\n
Steinke’s appearances here are co-sponsored by Eastern Mennonite Seminary, the Harrisonburg District of the United Methodist Church and Lancaster (PA) Mennonite Conference. Admission to the Mar. 2 public program is free.<\/p>\n
For more information, contact Kenton T. Derstine, director of the Clinical Pastoral Education Program at EMS, 540-432-4565.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"