Clergy Ethics is designed as a multi-part training — three hours of online learning videos with various voices, combined with a 5 hour (4-hour training plus breaks) in-person interactive training. This training hits all key learning styles and allows individuals that need time to digest the dense online-training content to move at their own pace before in-person interactive engagement with the material. The online component will be available on September 14th. The in-person training will be held Tuesday, October 27th during Clergy Retreat. All clergy who are pastoring churches are encouraged to register and attend.
The training is framed through a lens of self-care — beginning with the introduction of self-care and its importance, self-care tools woven throughout, and ending with the reflection on self-care and its impacts on ministry. Topics covered throughout the session include: boundary basics, boundary crossings and violations, power and vulnerability, expectations, transference and countertransference, dual relationships (including dating and friendship), loneliness, receiving gifts, technology and social media, harassment, finance, pornography, and mandated reporting. The whole training — while teaching about how to make decisions around boundaries and what boundaries are predefined — is focused on the importance of clergy remaining personally healthy which leads to making healthy decisions and creating congregations of health.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact Rev. Dr. Kim Kinsey, Board of Ordained Ministry Chair at: kdkumc@aol.com.