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About the Fall Clergy Conference
The clergy conference offers an opportunity for fellowship, learning, and worship together with our clergy brothers and sisters from across the Diocese.
Bishop Scott Benhase will be with us, and we are grateful to him for introducing to us Chuck DeGroat who will be our conference leader. Chuck serves as Professor of Counseling and Christian Spirituality and Executive Director of the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program at Western Theological Seminary. He is also a faculty member for the Soul Care Institute. He’s a licensed therapist, a spiritual director, author, and retreat leader/speaker. As a therapist, he has specialized in issues of abuse and trauma, pastoral (and leadership) health, and navigating issues of doubt and dark nights on the faith journey.
Chuck is also a Minister of Word and Sacrament in the Reformed Church in America. He pastored in Orlando and San Francisco before transitioning to training and forming pastors. He also trains clergy in issues of abuse and trauma, conducts pastor and planter assessments, and facilitates church consultations and investigations of abuse among pastors and within congregations.
Among his books are: Healing What’s Within: Coming Home to Yourself and to God When You’re Weary, Wounded, and Wandering, Toughest People to Love: How to Understand, Lead, and Love the Difficult People in Your Life - Including Yourself, and When Narcissism Comes to Church.
Chuck will lead us in three sessions:
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Monday afternoon Session 1 - Why We’re Weary - The Cost of Caring for Souls
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Monday afternoon Session 2 - Growing in Emotional Intelligence
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Tuesday morning Session 3 - Sustainable and Resilient Practices for Soul Care
NB For new clergy to the Diocese: There are two clergy gatherings annually at Camp Weed and Cerveny Conference Center: a Spring conference commencing the Thursday (through Friday) following Ash Wednesday and a Fall conference in the latter half of October commencing on a Monday (through Tuesday). It is strongly recommended that all active clergy give the clergy conferences and the opportunity to all be together a priority in their planning.
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