Participant Categories:
We now welcome both clergy participants (fully engaged in all aspects) and observers (attending general sessions). We look forward to welcoming you!

Contemporary post-modern society in America is placing new challenges before Orthodox Clergy in addition to those which priests have faced throughout history. This seminar (of 90 minutes each class) will offer brief didactic portions, discussion and case studies exploring three main areas:

1. Vocation and the person of the priest: unconscious motivation to priesthood and their consequences; clergy self-care, balancing church and family life, handling boundaries; recognizing vulnerabilities that can lead to burn-out and finding spiritual renewal through the community. These will be addressed in 4 sessions in an on-site retreat at the beginning of the course.

2. Challenges of parish ministry in contemporary life: includes 6 zoom modules exploring topics of pastoral leadership; pastoral care in post-modern identity politics [gender identity and sexual orientation]; impact of artificial Intelligence and digital media, addictions; psychodynamics of conversion; non-spiritual modes of healing Christians resort to; types of violence and the dynamics of forgiveness; discernment and ministry to persons with psychological problems and spiritual pain.

3. Navigating difficulties of congregational members: includes 5 zoom modules: identifying personality disorders and their impact on faith and religious practice; psychopathology in adults and children/adolescents; adaptive survival patterns of complex post traumatic trauma that affect repentance, confession, and spiritual formation; as well as unrecognized counter-transferential issues in the priest which can challenge boundaries in various ways through intense reactivity and persistent neediness.

Zoom classes will take place on Wednesdays:
• West Coast (USA): 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM
• Midwest (USA): 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
• East Coast (USA): 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM

The course begins on September 17 with a three-day in-person retreat (17-18-19) at St. George Serbian Church in San Diego, CA. Weekly online lessons will continue throughout September, October, and November, concluding before Christmas.

• Early registration (before May 1): $600
• Registration in May and June: $700
• Full price (from June onwards): $800

Our psychology course offers an engaging learning experience with all materials included. The price covers your study books and a certificate upon completion, ensuring all necessary expenses are taken care of.