Baptist Health pastoral conference examines sacred moments in helping relationships

April 29, 2015 | Jacksonville, FL

Baptist Health is sponsoring a pastoral conference focused upon examining sacred moments as a vital ingredient of change in helping relationships among pastoral and mental health counselors.

The May 14 conference at the University of North Florida, Adam W. Herbert University Center starts at 8:45 a.m. with the last breakout sessions ending at 4 p.m. Chaplains, pastoral counselors, ministers, physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, behavioral therapists, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, clinical social workers, nurses, respiratory therapists, and all other healthcare professionals are encouraged to attend. Continuing education credit will be available.

Keynote speaker, Kenneth Pargament, Ph.D., will speak in the morning about Cultivating Sacred Moments in Pastoral Counseling: A Key to Growth and Change with another talk after lunch. Dr. Pargament is professor of psychology at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Dr. Pargament's nationally and internationally known research addresses religious beliefs and health. He also studies the process by which people create perceptions about the sanctity of aspects of their life activities and the beneficial effects of "sanctification" for individual and interpersonal well-being. Dr. Pargament was recognized with the 2012 National Samaritan award and won the 2000 Virginia Staudt Sexton Mentoring Award from the American Psychological Association. His primary research interests include religion, stress and coping, and spiritually integrated psychotherapy.

In small groups, participants will be invited to dialogue with the keynote speaker and each other. Breakout sessions will provide opportunities for participants to discuss sacred moments they have experienced, including sacred moments with family, friends and faith community as well as with nature, music and art.

In addition to a welcome by John Wilbanks, Baptist Health, executive vice president and chief operating officer, small group facilitators include Don Lynn, MDiv, senior chaplain, Baptist Medical Center Beaches; Karla Repper, PhD, clinical psychologist, Baptist Behavioral Health; Jim Tippins, MDiv, senior chaplain, Baptist Medical Center Nassau; Beth Tjoflat, MDiv, chaplain/supervisory education student, Baptist Medical Center Beaches; David Morrell, MDiv, palliative care chaplain, Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and Craig Brown, MDiv, Med/EdS, pastoral counseling resident, Baptist Health.

To register. The registration price of $30 will support the Jim Mayo Chaplaincy Endowment. A portion of all gifts to the endowment will be matched by Baptist Health. In recognition of 35 years of ACPE accredited Clinical Pastoral Education at Baptist Health, local clergy and former CPE students will receive a complimentary admission.