章节大纲

  • Christian Leaders Institute • Chaplaincy Practice

    Having Ministry Genogram Conversations

    Equip yourself to use family formation conversations with wisdom, dignity, consent, and Scripture-rooted hope as people explore patterns, calling, healing, leadership, and faithful next steps in Christ.

    1 Module Self-Paced Consent-Based Conversations Formation & Discipleship Focus
    注册我

    Chaplaincy and Ministry Content Team

    Course Leadership

    • Professor Rev. Henry Reyenga — Team Leader
    • Pam Reyenga — Editor

    Contributors

    • Chaplain Tom Walcott
    • Dr. Mark Vander Meer
    • Abigail Dominiak
    • Haley Steiner
    • Sophie Distefano

    Having Ministry Genogram Conversations equips volunteer, part-time, and full-time Christian leaders to use simple family formation maps as a ministry conversation tool for discernment, healing, calling, and image-bearing purpose.

    A ministry genogram conversation helps people notice what was passed down, what was missing, what was wounded, what was strengthened, and what Christ may be redeeming. This course teaches students to use the genogram as a formation map, not merely a wound map.

    Students will learn to help people see family patterns with honesty and grace, while avoiding shame, blame, diagnosis, forced disclosure, or pressure for unsafe reconciliation. The goal is not to make family history more powerful than the Gospel. The goal is to help image-bearers understand formation and take faithful next steps in Christ.

    Who This Course Serves

    • Ministry students
    • Chaplaincy candidates
    • Ministry coaching participants
    • Soul Center leaders and participants
    • Church members seeking deeper formation
    • People exploring calling and leadership
    • Couples, parents, and mentors
    • People recognizing painful family patterns
    • People discovering missing models
    • Cycle-breakers and blessing-builders
    • Discipleship and ministry volunteers
    • People rebuilding confidence and identity

    What Students Will Learn

    Conversation & Ministry Practices

    • Consent-based ministry conversations
    • Family formation mapping
    • Clear role boundaries
    • Confidentiality with limits
    • Permission-based prayer
    • Scripture sharing with wisdom and consent
    • Trauma-aware pacing without therapy
    • Careful listening without interrogation
    • Dignity-protecting conversation skills
    • Referral awareness

    Patterns Students Learn to Recognize

    • Anger, criticism, fear, silence, and control
    • Addiction, instability, shame, and emotional distance
    • Family roles and identity patterns
    • Spiritual formation patterns
    • Missing leadership or parenting models
    • Grace-filled family strengths and blessings

    Ministry Skills Developed

    Students will learn to help people ask five key ministry genogram questions:

    • What was passed down?
    • What was missing?
    • What did this form in you?
    • What is Christ redeeming?
    • What are you called to carry forward or begin?

    Practical Conversation Skills

    • Introducing genogram conversations simply
    • Drawing a basic three-generation map
    • Asking permission before sensitive questions
    • Naming painful patterns without shame
    • Identifying strengths and traces of grace

    Boundary & Referral Wisdom

    • Recognizing missing models without discouragement
    • Distinguishing unfamiliarity from incapacity
    • Encouraging one faithful next step
    • Avoiding amateur counseling or diagnosis
    • Knowing when to pause, refer, or seek oversight
    The goal is to help students establish a safe, dignified, Christ-centered, accountable, and referral-aware ministry presence when people are exploring family formation, personal patterns, calling, confidence, and spiritual growth.

    Important Scope Statement

    This course provides ministry conversation training only. It does not certify students in:

    • Counseling or therapy
    • Family systems therapy
    • Trauma treatment
    • Psychological assessment
    • Case management
    • Legal advocacy
    • Family mediation
    • Custody advising
    • Abuse investigation
    • Crisis response
    • Clinical chaplaincy care

    Students are trained to serve within a clear Christian ministry role. They are taught to protect privacy, honor consent, avoid forced disclosure, pray by permission, share Scripture with wisdom, and refer when needs exceed their role.

    Those pursuing ordination pathways may continue through the Christian Leaders Alliance.

    Ready to begin?

    Scroll up and click the “Enroll me” button to get started.