| Persons navigating divorce often experience a sense of disconnection from their church, their spirituality, and the broader community. Congregational ministry practices that intentionally nurture belonging, healing, and hope can serve as powerful expressions of Christ’s love and unconditional acceptance during these painful times. Drawing on the workplace spirituality framework, this interactive session discusses three approaches to strengthening divorce ministry while enhancing overall congregational well-being. Through dialogue and scenario-based discussions, participants will gain practical skills for integrating the approaches into ministry, nurturing a deepening personal spiritual meaning among congregants, and cultivating an active, compassionate, and inclusive church environment. A small group scenario activity provides the opportunity to apply the approaches to a real-world ministry context.
Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss the psychological, social, and spiritual disconnection persons navigating divorce experience. 2. Examine the notion of workplace spirituality from a congregational ministry nurturing and strengthening perspective. 3. Discuss strategies for integrating the notion's approaches into existing church practices. 4. Apply the approaches to ministry through a hands-on scenario activity.
Cost: $35.00 (If requesting .3 CEUs) $25.00 (no CEUs)
About the Leader: Dr. Julie A. Guistwite, LSW is the owner of Ripple of Light Bereavement Resource Center, LLC. She is an Advanced Certified Thanatologist and Certified Social Work Manager with 15 years of practice experience in healthcare settings including palliative care, hospice, and funeral home. Dr. Guistwite holds over 10 years of palliative and end-of-life care educator expertise in academic, continuing education, and community settings. She authored a Master's Level Social Work Certificate in Holistic Bereavement Care and undergraduate level palliative care course. Dr. Guistwite has worked with Penn State's Clinical and Translational Science Institute's Project ECHO. She teaches undergraduate courses in palliative care, end-of-life issues, older adults, and health policy. She developed the first scale to evaluate and refine social workers’ expertise in death, dying, and bereavement care. Areas of expertise include spirituality, thanatology, older adults, healthcare equity, and palliative care. She is passionate about improving the well-being of individuals/families through advancing providers' excellence in serious illness, end-of-life, and grief care delivery.
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