Retreat for Hispanic and Latino Pastors
Immersed in the Heart of the Good Shepherd:
A First Retreat for Pastors Serving the
Hispanic / Latino Community
Trinity Center
Pine Knoll Shores, N.C.
April 13-15, 2012
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. -- John 10:11
Registration is free and available through
April 1, 2012.
Latinos in this country, and particularly those in the immigrant community, face countless existential crises every day. There is a great need to provide effective and transformative pastoral care to this group. And yet, as pastors often we are not prepared to deal with these crises effectively, sensitively, and wholly.
At this retreat, we will immerse ourselves into the heart of the "Good Shepherd" through praise, worship and theological reflection. Through sessions led by Dr. Pablo Polischuk, Professor of Psychology and Pastoral Counseling at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, and worship with Fede and Roni Apecena, lay leaders at “Fiesta Cristiana” at Apex UMC, we will develop a better understanding of the theology of pastoral care and its relevance in the life of the church.
Our prayer and hope is that pastors will return to their local churches, inspired, empowered, and with the desire to lead, thereby reflecting God’s desire to restore his image in all humanity.
The event will be held in Spanish, but English translation will be offered.
| Friday, April 13 | |
| 3:00-5:00 p.m. | Registration / Check-in |
| 6:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 7:30 p.m. | Worship |
| Saturday, April 14 | |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast |
| 8:30 a.m. | Devotional |
| 9:00 a.m. | Session 1: Theology of Pastoral Care |
| 10:15 a.m. | Break |
| 10:30 a.m. | Session 2: Pastoral Care in Existential Crises |
| 11:45 a.m. | Reflection Time in Small Groups |
| 12:30 p.m. | Lunch |
| 1:30 p.m. | Session 3: The Local Church as a Center of Pastoral Care |
| 2:45 p.m. | Reflection Time in Small Groups |
| 3:30 p.m. | Free Time |
| 5:00 p.m. | Dinner |
| 6:00 p.m. | Session 4: The Practice of Ministry in God's Presence |
| 7:15 p.m. | Spiritual Exercise in Small Groups |
| 8:30 p.m. | Worship and Prayer |
| Sunday, April 15 | |
| 7:30 a.m. | Breakfast / Check-out |
| 9:00 a.m. | Worship and Sending Forth |
Dr. Pablo Polischuk
Professor of Pastoral Counseling and Psychology
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
Dr. Polischuk teaches as a visiting professor at the Israel College of the Bible; he was an instructor in psychology at Harvard Medical School, and an associate in psychology at the Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. He also served as an adjunct professor at Southern California College and Fuller Theological Seminary. He has led numerous workshops on a wide variety of psychological and church-related topics, not only in the U.S., but also abroad.
As a practicing psychologist, Dr. Polischuk is in private practice at the Willowdale Center in South Hamilton, MA. In the past, he worked as Chief Psychologist for the Chelsea Health Center at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also spent time in private practice in Glendale, CA, and has provided consulting services to Karen Or, a non-profit counseling center in Jerusalem. Most recently, Dr. Polischuk has been involved in psychological research and he, along with Gordon-Conwell professors Dr. Karen Mason and Dr. Ray Pendleton, received a Lilly Theological Research Grant for their project Protestant Clergy Referral of Suicidal Persons.
Dr. Polischuk has also spent many years working actively in church ministry. An ordained minister in the Assemblies of God, he has preached at diverse Spanish and Anglo speaking churches. He was the senior pastor of Templo Calvario in San Francisco, and also served as interim pastor at several New England churches, including Park Street Church in Boston. At the present, he is the interim pastor at Union Congregational Church in Magnolia, MA.
Dr. Polischuk’s scholarly interests include the new covenant as a paradigm for relations, from dialogical self to trialogical considerations grounded in a Trinitarian/relational God, and integration in psychology/theology.
Worship Leaders: Fede and Roni Apecena
Fede and Roni Apacena serve as lay leaders at “Fiesta Cristiana,” a Hispanic ministry of Apex United Methodist Church.
Fede is from Argentina, and Roni from Colorado. They met in Argentina while Roni was studying theology at Peniel Bible Institute. Before his arrival to the United States, Fede served as worship leader at “El Rey Jesus” Assembly of God Church. He will begin his studies at Duke Divinity School in the fall 2012.
Cost
Due to the generous funding of The Duke Endowment, there is no cost to attend this event.
Accommodations
Registration includes two nights of lodging at the Trinity Center:
Trinity Center
613 Salter Path Road
Pine Knoll Shores, NC 28512
888.874.6287
Map and Directions
Additional Information
Continuing education units are available. The event will be held in Spanish, but English translation will be offered.
Register
Registration is limited to 25 participants and ends April 1, 2012. To register, or if you have questions, please contact:
Idia Piacentini
919.660.3447
ipiacentini@div.duke.edu