"Nothing," said Rabbi Edwin Friedman, "is more practical than the way we think." A natural systems view of the human condition represents a different order of thinking than is expressed in conventional social science models. Family Process and Natural Systems thinking applies a family model perspective to human relationships and organizations. It is based on the study of living systems, especially the human family.

Rabbi Friedman suggested that at this time in history even change is changing--for the faster. In a millennium of "perpetual novelty" we face an increase in the rate of change. This will have a continuing effect on families, organizations, and environment. Thus, how one thinks and functions, especially pastoral leaders, will be most important. The use of research on family process and the promotion of leadership through self-differentiation offers a mature path to the health and well-being of families and congregations.

The purpose of this postgraduate seminar is to introduce systems thinking and examine how Rabbi Friedman applies it to clergy leadership as an ecumenical experience or common terrain for ministry to the human condition. The seminar focuses on family process, leadership issues, and the congregation as an emotional system. This approach is based on what doesn't change in the process--the "uniqueness and integrity" of leadership through self-differentiation, or a stewardship of the soul.

Leadership through self-differentiation from a natural systems perspective promotes self definition and self regulation within work and family contexts. Rabbi Friedman describes three interlocking systems for clergy: one's own family, the congregation, and families in the congregation. They are on the same emotional current. The aim of the seminar is the promotion of strength and capacity for growth, vision, and effective leadership for ministry. This seminar is about health, integrity, self management, and how we lean into life.

The Nuclear Family Emotional Process
Self-differentiation
Emotional Triangles
The Multigenerational Transmission Process
Sibling Position
The Family Projection Process
Emotional Cutoff
Societal Emotional Process
Leadership through self-differentiation
Spirituality & Wisdom

Rabbi Edwin Friedman
(1932 - 1996)

He completed extensive work under Rabbi Edwin Friedman in advanced postgraduate study of family process. He studied with Dr. Murray Bowen, the major mentor of Rabbi Friedman and early researcher in family theory. He participates in Bridgebuilders and Healthy Congregations designed by Dr. Peter Steinke.

Dr. Foster has done postgraduate training at the Ann Arbor Center for the Family, the Minnesota Institute of Family Dynamics, and the Georgetown Family Center, Washington, D.C

Practical skills and experience from 24 years as a parish pastor are brought to the seminars and presentations. This past sixteen years he has worked with and served over a thousand pastors, ministers, priests, lay leaders, and members of the helping professions.

This has been the place to hang out while in the ministry.

Being able to think more systemically puts "success" and progress into a new and relevant framework.

I'm getting up a whole lot better in the morning for some reason.

How people treat each other determines how things go.

Staying away from the bullets that don't have your name on them has new meaning.

The seminar helped me sustain my work on  becoming a less anxious presence.

This has been eye-opening, a place to step aside from dynamics and pressures.

This stuff saved my ministry.

I think I saw a "systems moment" when my husband began a new conversation with his  anxious mother.

It's been hard, slow work but things are different, good different.

Much of what I have faced in the congregation is immaturity, theirs and mine.

The impact of the systems thinking continues to help me think clearer, and see my part in the processes of life.

I continue to find deep rewards from this ongoing study, reflection, and practice.

As challenging as the concepts can be to master -- and even understand -- practicing the non-anxious presence, and other principles is, I deem, even more challenging! …… Yet, the insights have continued to be a rich background and fruitful for ministry and life.

I'm more frequently at the point of welcoming difficult people as teachers. 

Not taking all the blame for what happens is a great release for me.

Biblical stories and incidents are taking on fresh humanity and correspondence.

When I worry about being an adequate parent for my kids this frame of reference opens up the grace of a wider lens and less blame.

Rev. Brenda Alexander, Presbyterian
Dr. Howard Anderson, Episcopal
Rev. Kent Anderson, Covenant
Rev. Wally Arnold, ELCA
Rev. Karna Baseman-Stark, ELCA
Rev. Bob Berg, Bishop, ELCA
Rev. Allan Bjomberg, Bishop, ELCA
Rabbi Stephen Booth
Dr. Michael Bozym, Roman Catholic
Rev. Colon Brown, Methodist
Rev. Kathryn Davelaar, RCA
Sr. Tarianne DeYonker, OP, Roman Catholic
Alden Drew, Business CEO
Rev. Leland Eilert, ELCA
Rev. Dennis Fitzpatrick, LC-MS
Rev. Bruce Fredrickson, LC-MS
Rev. Lamarr V. Gibson, Methodist
Dr. Gary Hansen, Bishop ELCA
Dr. Randall Hansen, Methodist
Dr. Sarah Henrich, Faculty, Luther Seminary
Dr. Robert Hunter, Presbyterian
Rev. Thomas Joyce, Episcopal
Dr. Jerome E. Kwako, M.D.