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Leading From the Heart - for Christian Leaders - Minnesota

When: 
Sun, 06/20/2010 (All day) - Fri, 06/25/2010 (All day)

LEADING FROM THE HEART

AN INTENSIVE WORKSHOP IN COMPASSIONATE COMMUNICATION FOR CHRISTIAN LEADERS

For full details see http://www.luthersem.edu/leadingfromtheheart/

Sponsored by Congregational and Community Care Leadership at Luther Seminary and Lake Nokomis Presbyterian Church

Description

Christian leaders encounter conflict, criticism, and diverse beliefs and practices every day. How can we keep our hearts open and stay in relationship with those who are different from us? How can we communicate compassionately and clearly without sacrificing our own integrity?

This intensive workshop teaches the skills and consciousness of compassionate communication (also called nonviolent communication) as a means of connecting to God, self, and others in the midst of interpersonal impasses of all sorts. Through a five day immersion in a community of Christian leaders, you will learn how to:

Develop compassion for yourself and others;

  • Express yourself so that you will be heard more fully and teach others to do the same;
  • Transform criticism into opportunities for mutual understanding;
  • Stay in dialogue in the midst of difference and disagreement;
  • Achieve deeper self-connection, inner peace and self-care;
  • Heal pain from unresolved conflict, guilt and shame;
  • Build authentic community based on honest expression and empathic listening.

Format

This is not an academic conference but rather a hands-on workshop. Presentations will be interactive, including didactic material, time for questions and discussion, personal sharing and practice of skills. There will be guided exercises, opportunities for journaling and daily small group practice. Time also will be set aside for worship, prayer, meditation, and walking the labyrinth with the consciousness of compassionate communication.

Preparation

This workshop is designed to accommodate the learning needs of persons at beginning and more advanced levels of understanding compassionate communication. We strongly encourage beginners to read Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg before attending the workshop. We will offer a Fundamentals Track during the first two days of training for those new to compassionate communication. More advanced sessions will be offered every day in each session.

Since this workshop emphasizes a Christian appropriation of compassionate communication for use in the church, all participants are encouraged to read the following articles before attending the training:

Theresa Latini, “Nonviolent Communication: A Humanizing Educational and Ecclesial Practice,” Journal of Education and Christian Belief, 13:1 (2009), 19-31.

Deborah van Deusen Hunsinger, “Practicing Koinonia,” Theology Today, Volume 66, Number 3, October, 2009, 346-367.

For full details see http://www.luthersem.edu/leadingfromtheheart/