Monthly Archives: March 2009

Taking stock

Posted on March 30, 2009 by igalindo

The new job has taken me out of the loop of what used to be a steady study of Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST). I’ve missed being regularly engaged in study and discussions about the theory and its application with … Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory | 3 Comments

Book review: Learning the Way by Williams

Posted on March 23, 2009 by igalindo

I’ve just received in the mail a copy of Learning the Way, by Cassandra Williams (Alban Institute, 2009). I was asked to write the forward to this book. Here is an edited version:

Posted in books, Christian Education, congregational life, discipleship | 1 Comment

How to deal with a wall

Posted on March 17, 2009 by igalindo

One of the first dollars I made for a job was knocking through a wall in a New York City brownstone. I used a sledgehammer and it took me an entire day. I was paid a dollar, but in the … Continue reading →

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What I’d look for in a church

Posted on March 16, 2009 by igalindo

I recently attended a denominational meeting where my I.D. badge noted the name of the church of which I’m a member. That information triggered a conversation when someone reading the name of the church asked me how I liked my … Continue reading →

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Congregations during pastoral transitions

Posted on March 9, 2009 by igalindo

Pastoral transitions can be anxiety-ridden times for congregations. Congregations that go through an interim period without pastoral leadership need to navigate transition without an organization’s chief resource: its leader. That transition involves many challenges, including, disruption of homeostasis, a shift … Continue reading →

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What will they say about you?

Posted on March 4, 2009 by igalindo

On a few occasions I’ve engaged in the exercise of writing my own obituary or epitath. The exercise was prompted in seminars or workshops, and on one occasion as part of my orientation as a hospice chaplain. Kierkegaard said “Life … Continue reading →

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When is a cutoff not a cutoff?

Posted on March 2, 2009 by igalindo

At a recent workshop with clergy on Bowen Family Systems Theory and congregational leadership one lingering question came up. When dealing with the concept of cutoffs among clergy, it has become inevitable that someone will bring up the matter of … Continue reading →

Posted in bowen family systems theory, congregational life, leadership | 2 Comments