Chicago, IL – On February 1, 2018, seven IMC pastors gathered at Living Water Community Church for healthy boundaries 101 training.  Pastor Kristin Jackson, certified training through FaithTrust Institute and pastor of Living Water, led the training.

This marks the third HB 101 training since the IMC Church Life Team instituted a new policy requiring all IMC credentialed pastors, who are active in ministry, to complete this training. There will be one more training (March 8 at the Mennonite Church of Normal) prior to the June 1, 2018, deadline for completing this training.

The purpose of the training is to provide an introduction to healthy boundaries in ministry. The training covers topics such as;

• Boundary Basics for Clergy
• Dating, Friends, Dual Relationships, and Gifts
• The Pulpit, Transference, Touch, and Intimacy
• Preserving Boundaries through Personal and Professional Health

Of the 67 credentialed persons who are required, under the policy, to complete the training, 39 have taken the training, 15 are scheduled to take the training on March 8, and 4 have provided proof of similar content training in another professional capacity (chaplains, counselors, etc.). If you are not doing the math, 58 of 67 credentialed leaders have completed the training.  We have had two persons complete the training that are not credentialed but wanted to learn the content and one pastor from another conference.

IMC partners with neighboring conferences who offer the same training through a certified trainer. Pastors are required to take advanced boundary training every three years.

If you would like your Elders, Board, or Pastor/Congregation Relationship Committee to take this training, please contact Michael Danner. He has led a shortened version of the training, called Taking it Home, in one congregation and is open to doing this in others.  You can take advantage of Michael’s presence in your congregation on a Sunday morning, to provide this training during Sunday school or in a special session during or after lunch.