Pre-Conference Leadership Institute, April 11-12, 2007:
Journey to the Margins: Inviting the Exiled Home
Don Bisson, FMS, DMin, will facilitate the pre-conference Leadership Institute, April 11-12, 2007. The focus will be an examination of the challenges our enrichment, formation and training (EFT) program participants encounter when they offer spiritual direction in non-traditional places and with people who are marginalized.What support do we offer spiritual director interns who accept the challenge and gift of ministry in the margins of our world … with the homeless, refugees, and people living with HIV/AIDS, in hospices, prisons, and immigrant neighborhoods? Innocence and goodwill are not good enough preparation. Being present at the margins is the start of a journey to the shadow places not only in society, but within ourselves. Bisson’s extensive experience in EFT programs, spiritual direction, and supervision, as well as his Jungian work, will offer participants a panorama of the challenges to be faced and the responsibilities of programs to prepare and support spiritual directors who take this ministry out beyond traditional settings. The Leadership Institute is open to EFT faculty, staff , and anyone planning to start a new program to form spiritual directors.