Christian Health Care Center Holds Fall Clergy Day

The Pastoral Care Department of Christian Health Care Center (CHCC) recently held a Fall Clergy Day for area clergy featuring special guest speaker Dr. Thomas E. Legere. The topic was “The Spiritual Journey: The Great Homecoming.” The event was divided into two sections: “Leaving the Garden of Eden,” and “Twists and Turns of the Journey.” There were clergy from 13 houses of worship in attendance from a variety of communities. Clergy Days are full-day events and feature nationally recognized speakers. The topics are carefully chosen to help and support community clergy who may be struggling with similar issues.

“Clergy Day is a professional enrichment event that strengthens the partnership between local clergy and Christian Health Care Center,” said Rev. Phyllis Palsma, MDiv, Chaplain/Pastoral Resource Coordinator. “It is also an opportunity to affirm the dedication and hard work of local clergy, who come from numerous faith traditions.”

Dr. Legere has been a university professor, author, and psychotherapist for more than forty years. A member of the American Psychological Association and a Fellow in the American Association of Pastoral Counselors, he has lectured on three continents on

how to build bridges between psychology and spirituality. He is the author of three books and more than 400 journal, magazine, and newspaper articles. Dr. Legere has expertise in pastoral counseling, developmental psychology, dreamwork, addiction studies, the psychology of religion, and transpersonal psychology.

Beginning with the innocence of childhood, this workshop explained each step of the spiritual journey to wholeness, using the terminology of everyday psychology. Designed to be both personally as well as professionally beneficial, the true meaning of what it means to be spiritual was explained in terms that were meaningful and understandable to modern seekers. With helpful handouts, Dr. Legere helped participants to acquire the tools necessary to build bridges between psychology and spirituality for themselves and for those clergy serve.

CHCC provides a broad continuum of high-quality, compassionate care, offering superior senior-life, short-term rehab, and mental-health services. As a non-profit organization, we deliver Person- and Family-centered Care to our community based upon the Christian principles on which we were founded more than a century ago.

For more information, visit ChristianHealthCare.org.

CUTLINE: Pictured, from left, are Rev. James Knol, LCSW, Pastoral Care Director/Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital Chaplain; Fall Clergy Day speaker Dr. Thomas E. Legere; and Rev. Phyllis Palsma, MDiv, Christian Health Care Adult Day Services of Wayne Chaplain and Pastoral Resource Coordinator.