Date of Award

3-2006

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Department

Seminary

Abstract

Pastors have their own family system and, therefore, bring into the church and ministry their family-of-origin functional and dysfunctional thinking patterns and behaviors. Pastors who receive insight into and healing of early-life woundedness and dysfunctional patterns, especially those patterns that are core to Bowen's family systems theory, will be less likely to compensate for their woundedness through the church family system and less likely then to experience burnout. It is the thesis of this dissertation that pastors engage in Imago Relationship Theory techniques with their spouses, and experience personal healing and self-differentiation leading to further spiritual identity development, become better church leaders.

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Christianity Commons

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