In His Image: Pastoral Care amidst Sexual Wreckage

Seminar for Pastors • Friday, November 1

Saint John is hosting its fourth annual Christian Faith & Life Conference in November 2024. This year we are partnering with DOXOLOGY in this educational endeavor.

Pastors will gather on Friday afternoon to learn and participate in the following sessions:

Pastoral Care for Those Who Cohabit

Making Referrals with Confidence

Spiritual Care for LGBT Souls

Pr. David Fleming and Dr. Beverly Yahnke of DOXOLOGY: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel are our presenters.

Refreshments will be provided. This free seminar is sponsored by the LCMS Office of National Mission.

Register Here

Click here for the Addressing Challenges to Biblical Sexuality conference for laity and pastors on Saturday, November 2.

Schedule

Session Summaries

Session 1: Pastoral Care for Those Who Cohabit

Every pastor is challenged by couples who cohabit. The nature of this public sin afflicts the consciences of those engaging in this outward act of inward sin, as well as the consciences of parents, grandparents, church members, congregational leaders, and the pastor, as well. Consciences are burdened and there is need to confront worldly wisdom with confident Christian invitation to a “more excellent way.” | Fleming

Session 2: Making Referrals with Confidence

This session will focus primarily upon providing useful tools to help pastors identify the circumstances that merit referral. Sometimes it is difficult to know if referral is appropriate. Then one always has the worry regarding how a referral may be received. Referrals can emerge from the classroom, conversation with a colleague, crisis pastoral counseling, or from routine spiritual care conversations. Not all crisis counseling results in referral and not all spiritual care conversation results in referral. Useful strategies will be provided. Consideration of referrals for gender dysphoria and transgenderism is included. | Yahnke

Session 3: Spiritual Care for LGBT Souls

Pastors will explore the foundations of spiritual assessment and diagnosis to providing care for the soul. When LGBT individuals seek spiritual care, pastors will have increased confidence as they invite individuals into what can be a challenging spiritual care conversation. It is incumbent upon pastors to find a way to profitably have a conversation with those not like us that helps them to see Jesus. This presentation will provide insights into the way Saint Paul spoke profitably to a culture like ours, that pointed them to Jesus’ more excellent way. | Fleming

Presenter Biographies

Pr. David C. Fleming | Pastor Fleming is DOXOLOGY’s Executive Director for Spiritual Care. A 1986 graduate of Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, he has served as pastor of Our Savior Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan since 1993 (Senior Pastor 1993-2019, Associate Pastor 2019-). He is a member of the Concordia University Wisconsin Board of Regents. Pastor Fleming is an often requested presenter for district and regional conferences, Lutheran Worship conferences, and has served missionaries and pastors throughout the U.S. and world. He has authored a variety of articles and the CPH Advent resource “God Loves Me Dearly.” He and his wife, Jo Marie, have three children and three grandchildren.

Dr. Beverly K. Yahnke | Dr. Yahnke, a clinical psychologist, is DOXOLOGY’s Executive Director of Christian Counsel. During her 25 years in private clinical practice, she provided care for church workers and their families. She has also served as Department Chair and Professor of Psychology at Concordia University Wisconsin, where she was named “Faculty Laureate”. Most recently, her work with Doxology has focused on providing pastors, teachers, and church workers with opportunities for renewal and advanced training. She has written numerous articles and is a frequently invited speaker for clergy and educator conferences. She is known throughout the church as a compassionate counselor, articulate speaker, and engaging teacher.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness.” … So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 1:26-27