Online seminars at the Oates Institute provide an exciting new approach to lifelong learning by connecting learners, resources, and faculty in an online learning community
The Wayne E. Oates Institute offers 40-45 Online Seminars each year to provide convenient learning opportunities utilizing an online approach for reflective learning with colleagues. These small group seminars feature presentations and interaction on specific topics over a 3-week period using Email discussion. Each week the peer group interacts around a new presentation to share insights in light of their own experiences and context. Online seminars provide the opportunity to participate from any location according to each person’s individual scheduling needs.
Engaging One's Story: Transitions in Adult Life -- July 13-31, 2009
Written by Christopher Hammon
Thursday, 14 May 2009 09:40
Engaging One's Story: Transitions in Adult Life
Facilitators: Jim Mahanes and Chris Hammon
July 13-31, 2009
12 contact hours
Using the metaphors found in film, Jungian archetypes, and shared stories, this seminar encourages participants to explore their personal stories as a platform for examining transitions in adult life.
Seminar participants will utilize email discussion to reflect on three popular films as examples of transition stories, share their stories, and engage in dialogue about counseling others in the midst of adult life transitions.
Learning objectives for this seminar include learning to (1) use one's story to assist others in understanding adult stages of development and transition, (2) reflect on the concept of "individuation" and the journey toward wholeness, and (3) use the power of story to shed new light and perspective on issues that people are dealing with in life transitions.
The seminar is limited to 12 participants. Registration for members of the Oates Institute is free and only $60 for non-members.
Holding the Boundaries: Professional Ethics in Practice -- July 13-31, 2009
Written by Christopher Hammon
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 14:28
Holding the Boundaries: Professional Ethics in Practice
July 13-31, 2009
Facilitator: TBA
12 contact hours
The issues of dual relationships and the intimacy of professional-client/patient/parishioner relationships frequently blindside care giving professionals; whether they are counselors, chaplains, pastors, social workers, or nurses. This recognition has prompted many professional organizations, licensure boards, and denominational agencies to require professional caregivers to show annual continuing education in the area of professional ethics.
This seminar features peer group dialogue around a collection of articles addressing the nature of these boundaries and their implications in care giving relationships.
This seminar features presentations by Dr. Wayne Clark, Director of Clinical Training, Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary Counseling Training Center in Louisville, Kentucky; Dr. Leah Taylor, Behavioral Health Specialist with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority; Rev. Karrie Oertli,Director of Pastoral Services and the Administrative Director of the James L. Hall Center for Mind, Body, Spirit at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center; Dr. William Clough,Program Chair, Pastoral Community Counseling Program, Argosy University in Sarasota, Florida; Dr. Janet Forbes, Senior Pastor of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church in Highlands Ranch, Colorado; and Dr. Marie Fortune, Founder and Senior Analyst at the Faith Trust Institute in Seattle, Washington.
The seminar is limited to 12 participants. Registration for members of the Oates Institute is free and only $60 for non-members.
Care of Self: Care Giver's Mental Health -- July 13-31, 2009
Written by Christopher Hammon
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 13:51
Care of Self: The Care Giver's Mental Health
July 13-31, 2009
Facilitator: C.J. Phipps, Ph.D.
12 contact hours
In the process of giving care to others, care givers often overlook tending to their own self-care. For example, in the face of a growing concern about clergy health -- physical, emotional, social, and spiritual -- recent research shows that while clergy depression is only slightly higher than the general population, there is a significantly higher percentage reporting periods when they feel depressed and "worn out" some or most of the time.
Through peer dialogue around three presentations on care giver's mental health, this seminar provides an opportunity to reflect on self-care and to explore approaches for staying mentally healthy as a care giving or ministry professional.
This seminar features presentations by Dr. Charles Chandler on "The Minister's Mental Health During Crisis," Drs. James Hyde and John Schwab on "The Casualties of Sadness," and Dr. John Swinton on "The Strength to Be Human: A Theology of Mental Health." Learning objectives for this seminar include being able to identify spiritual/theological perspectives regarding human dignity, values, and mental health as well as being able to assess one's mental health status and practice self differentiation as a self care skill.
The seminar is limited to 12 participants. Registration for members of the Oates Institute is free and only $60 for non-members.
Care of Self: Nurturing Silence and Sabbath -- July 13-31, 2009
Written by Christopher Hammon
Wednesday, 13 May 2009 11:07
Care of Self: Nurturing Silence and Sabbath
July 13-31, 2009
Facilitator: TBA
12 contact hours
In the process of giving care to others, care givers often overlook their own practice of self-care. Through peer dialogue around three presentations, this seminar provides participants an opportunity to reflect on their own care regarding rest and personal renewal while learning to observe the sacrament of the present moment and affirm the gift and necessity of rest.
This seminar features presentations by Dr. E. Glenn Hinson ("The Sacrament of the Present Moment") and Dr. Wayne E. Oates ("Your Right to Rest" and "Discovering Your Privacy in order to Nurture Silence").
Through a facilitated email discussion with each other, seminar participants have the opportunity to reflect on the role of self care around rest and nurturing personal sabbath.
The seminar is limited to 12 participants. Registration for members of the Oates Institute is free and only $60 for non-members.
While exploring the topic art and healing, seminar participants will reflect on two exhibits in the Online Learning Center art gallery: "Faith Squinting, Love Reaching, Hope Walking" by artist C.J. Phipps and "Spirituality, Art, and Health" by art historian Lynn Meckler. A third resource will be the art in an Oates Journal article, "Art and Healing: A Personal Reflection" by artist Cherry Moore.
Through an email discussion with the artists/presenters and with each other, seminar participants have the opportunity to reflect on the role of art in healing in light of their own experiences and these three resources.
Cherry Moore is a hospice chaplain and has worked for Hospice Brazos Valley since October of 2002. She travels in ten rural counties of Texas to visit patients. Cherry has a Master of Divinity degree and four and a half units of CPE. She was endorsed as a hospice chaplain last year by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
Cherry also is a visual artist - a painter and printmaker. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting, drawing and printmaking. She sometimes says that in her case the MFA stands for Minister of Fine Arts and the MDiv stands for Making Divine Images Visible.
Cherry uses art with her hospice patients and families when it seems appropriate and has given presentations at regional hospice conferences and at Texas A&M University on using the arts in hospice care. As her supervisor says "Cherry has art tools in her ministry toolbox."
The seminar is limited to 12 participants. Registration for members of the Oates Institute is free and only $60 for non-members.
Holding the Boundaries: 
While exploring the topic art and healing, seminar participants will reflect on two exhibits in the Online Learning Center art gallery: "Faith Squinting, Love Reaching, Hope Walking" by artist C.J. Phipps and "Spirituality, Art, and Health" by art historian Lynn Meckler. A third resource will be the art in an Oates Journal article, "Art and Healing: A Personal Reflection" by artist Cherry Moore.
Through an email discussion with the artists/presenters and with each other, seminar participants have the opportunity to reflect on the role of art in healing in light of their own experiences and these three resources.
Cherry also is a visual artist - a painter and printmaker. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting, drawing and printmaking. She sometimes says that in her case the MFA stands for Minister of Fine Arts and the MDiv stands for Making Divine Images Visible.
