Family Systems in the Congregation
‘How shall we account for the extraordinary increase in church and synagogue upheavals during the past twenty years? ...I have observed this contagion spread to all four corners of our country, infecting every religious denomination with which I come into contact.... It is precisely this universality that leads me to suspect we are dealing with a phenomenon that is not basically ‘religious' but which is reflective of society at large.'
The family systems view of relationships ‘... is based on the idea that relationship systems are not built up out of the personalities of those who belong to them, but rather that the ‘personalities' in any institution express themselves according to the forces within the system and their position within those forces.' ~Rev. Peter Steinke, ‘Forward', HOW YOUR CHURCH FAMILY WORKS, p. vii-viii Check out more by typing in search words 'Conflict Transformation Skills for Congregations', 'Family Systems Peer Groups', 'Healthy Congregations', Leadership in the Anxious Congregation', 'Rule of Christ' and 'The Arts of Living Faithfully.' Your comments, suggestions and requests are welcome. Contact us at naomi@wumcumc.org. Family systems ministry resources are provided by The West Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church as part of its focus on strengthening leaders, laity and clergy, in the faith community to be spiritually-based, skilled, visionary and connected.