Pastor-Faculty Study Group

Pastors meet regularly with AMBS professors to study the Bible, theological questions, or ethical dilemmas. Small groups discuss topics pertinent to their work, including the importance of teaching in pastoral ministry. While the academic study is fulfilling, these gatherings are also a time of rejuvenation, nurture, and friendship. Each year, an AMBS professor will choose the thematic focus and help to determine group composition.

The Pastor as Caregiving Sage

2007-2008 Pastor-Faculty Study Group

The study group for 2007-2008 is The Pastor as Caregiving Sage, and will be facilitated by Daniel Schipani, Professor of Pastoral Care & Counseling. The three goals envisioned for the group are:

to affirm the pastor’s identity as caregiving sage (understood as a dimension of their identity and role as spiritual guide)
to enhance the skills of observation, analysis and interpretation, and strategizing in pastoral counseling as the practice of wisdom
and to encourage the pastor’s practice of pastoral theology, by learning to integrate human experience, biblical-theological and ethical perspectives and knowledge, and human science contributions into their reflection on ministry.

The study group will consist of eight two-hour sessions during spring 2008, focusing on pastoral counseling situations in the congregation to be presented by the participants.

Click here to read about Daniel Schipani's book The Way of Wisdom in Pastoral Counseling.

Previous Participants

2007-2008
The Pastor as Caregiving Sage

Facilitator: Daniel Schipani, Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling

Pastors	Congregation
Wes Bontrager	Yellow Creek Mennonite Church, IN
Janet Cook	River of Life Community Church, IN
Bob Martz	Topeka Mennonite Church, IN
Jo Ann Mundy	First Baptist Church, MI
Diana Siegel	Topeka United Methodist Church, IN
Jim Smith	Bethel Missionary Church, IN
Eldon Stoltzfus	Forks Mennonite Church, IN
Bob Yoder	Goshen College, IN

2006-2007
Engaging Pastor Paul

Facilitator: Jacob Elias, Professor of Old Testament

Pastors	Congregation
Tyler Hartford	Pleasant View Mennonite Church, IN
Ed Kauffman	Conference Minister, Central Plains Mennonite Conference
Todd Lehman	Zion Mennonite Church, OR
Bryce Miller	Shalom Mennonite Fellowship, AZ
Steve Musselman	Zion Mennonite Church, PA
Mark Schlotterbeck	Germantown Mennonite Church, PA

2005-2006
Luke's Quest Stories and Women's Leadership

Facilitator: Mary Schertz, Professor of New Testament

Pastors	Congregation
Loanne Harms	Waterford Mennonite Church, IN
Kristen Hoober	College Mennonite Church, IN
Rachel Miller Jacobs	Kern Road Mennonite Church, IN
Lois Johns Kaufmann	Assembly Mennonite Church, IN
Jane Miller Leatherman	Spiritual Director, IN
Elsa Littman	LaPorte Hospital, IN
Brenda Hostetler Meyer	Benton Mennonite Church, IN
Brenda Sawatzky Paetkau	Eighth Street Mennonite Church, IN
Tina Schlabach	Waterford Mennonite Church, IN
Klaudia Smucker	College Mennonite Church, IN
Janice Yordy Sutter	Kern Road Mennonite Church, IN
Mary Lehman Yoder	Assembly Mennonite Church, IN
Pamela Yoder	First Mennonite Church, IN
AMBS Faculty	Position
Barb Nelson Gingerich	Managing Editor, Institute of Mennonite Studies
Mary Schertz, facilitator	Professor of New Testament

2004-2005
Text-Reading Group