Spring 2008

The INNERLIFE
A Publication of the
Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee, Inc.

Partners in Caring Since 1985

SPOTLIGHT ON THE BOARD

by Chrissa Walsh, Director of Finance and Development

The Board of Directors of PCCT is an integral part of the success of any organization.  It is important to recognize the hard work and dedication of these loyal volunteers and share the accomplishments with the community.

Today, PCCT is proud to shine the spotlight on John Younger. John came to PCCT in response to an invitation by Maggie Tarpley, Secretary of the Board of Directors. John is

currently serving as Treasurer of PCCT and therefore an officer of the Executive Committee. Maggie and her husband, John (also former board member), are long time

friends of John and John’s wife, Jessica. In addition, John was intrigued by the organization through his friendship with

Liston and Jennie Mills. Dr. Liston O. Mills was a member of the Founding Board of PCCT. He passed away in 2002. John was always impressed with Liston’s personal commitment to the work of the Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee. He knew many years ago that this organization was worthwhile and applauded this ‘specialized counseling that embraces all faith traditions’.  John brings a wealth of experience and wisdom to PCCT and a wonderful ability to

tell stories to help get the point across. Although “fully retired” since 2001, John’s career as a math teacher, assistant principal, Franklin Road Academy Headmaster, principal, assistant superintendent, basketball, football and track coach, transitioned nicely to Treasurer of PCCT. John also serves as Chairman of the Board of the Tennessee Credit Union (formerly Tennessee Teachers Credit Union) and chairs the Personnel Committee of the Christ Church Cathedral. Married to Jessica, they have one daughter,

Mary Clare, wife of Chris Champion, and one granddaughter, Mary Leland. John does manage to fill his days with family time and lots of golf in addition to the hours he gives as a volunteer! As John’s words ring in my

 ears, “You don’t have to be eternal to be immortal”, I bid you farewell till the next time the Spotlight shines!

CLINICAL SERVICES UPDATE

by Chris O'Rear, M.Div., M.M.F.T., Director of Clinical Services

I was recently on a trip to Atlanta. The traffic on the interstate had come to a complete standstill, as traffic does in Atlanta.  As I sat in traffic I was initially frustrated, but then I looked to the left of my car and there growing around the guardrail was the most beautiful purple flower. I cannot tell

you what kind of flower it was (with apologies to my college botany professor), but I can tell you it was magnificent. In the midst of the concrete and steel with traffic all around this

beautiful flower was thriving.

The Pastoral Counseling Centers are much like that purple flower these days. In 2007, PCCT struggled financially. However, our committed staff has worked together to clarify our identity and has used our collective creativity to help shape a bright and beautiful future for PCCT. I want to share with you some of the exciting things that are happening here.

Pastoral Care Specialist

In September we started a group of seven students in our Pastoral Care Specialist program. These ministers and lay ministers come to the program from diverse backgrounds and serve their congregations and the community in a variety of ways. We are meeting every other Tuesday with didactics and clinical case consultation to help these students grow

in their skills of providing pastoral care in their places of ministry. This program is an accredited training program of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors (AAPC) and helps prepare these students for membership in AAPC as a Pastoral Care Specialist (a non-certified, but full voting membership).

New Students & Employees

The past several months PCCT has added several new therapists to our staff. Eduardo Lelli is a theologically trained and ordained licensed alcohol and other drugs of abuse counselor. Eduardo has joined us primarily to help us develop an office and services for the Spanish-

speaking population in Nashville, but will be seeing some clients in the Nashville office as we work to create a more welcoming environment for Nashville’s Hispanic population. We will be providing supervision for Eduardo as he works to complete the requirements for Licensed Clinical

Pastoral Therapist in Tennessee. Eduardo has been informally involved with us for a couple of months and has already added to our ministry and staff.

We recently welcomed Elizabeth Madden and Kate Lassiter to our staff as interns from Vanderbilt’s Ph.D. program in Religion and Personality. Elizabeth and Kate join Liz, who has been with us as a Vanderbilt intern for the past two years. We are proud to have this caliber of student

providing supervised care with us. Liz, Kate and Elizabeth work in our Nashville office at 100 Vine Court in the Fitzpatrick House of the Vine Street Christian Church.

Jarrod Adams has joined PCCT as a new part-time employee. Jarrod has been working for several years at the Monroe-Harding Children’s home and has other experience in youth ministry. Jarrod will be working under

supervision towards state licensure and membership in AAPC. Jill Faughn recently joined our staff in the North office. Jill is a seminary trained licensed Professional Counselor with experience in child and adolescent psychotherapy. Finally, we welcome Rev. Tom Gildemeister, Sr. Minister of Christ United Methodist Church, to our staff. Tom will be working primarily in our Nashville and Franklin offices. He is working on a Doctor of Ministry degree in Pastoral Counseling and will doing his clinical work under supervision with us. Tom joins Trey Holt, a part-time clinician who has served in Franklin since mid-2007. Trey is a former Methodist minister who brings extensive clinical experience ranging from inpatient/residential care to the provision of psychotherapy and behavioral modification services for children, adolescents and their families. We are blessed to have these competent therapists join our ministry to Middle Tennessee.

Plans for Growth and Change

PCCT has been exploring possible changes in our satellite offices for several years that would allow the outlying offices to grow as big as necessary to meet the demand for services in their respective communities. In November the Board of Directors approved a plan to restructure the way we relate financially to our satellite offices. These changes will allow us to put at least one full-time therapist in each satellite office and grow those offices to meet the demands for service.

With the approval of other changes in the way therapists are

compensated, our staff is very excited about the future of PCCT and the potential for growth.

American Association of Pastoral Counselors Site Visit

In October PCCT hosted two visitors from AAPC in an accreditation site visit. The site visit team noted the potential of our centers and the significant history of our organization not just in middle Tennessee, but also around the country. In March, AAPC will approve PCCT as a service provider and we anticipate accreditation of our Pastoral Care Specialist

program and our ongoing advanced supervision program. In light of this visit, we have decided to suspend the Clinical Pastoral Therapist training program and will look for an opportunity to bring that program back, hopefully in conjunction with a local University. So, while there have been some frustrations in the last couple of months, there are certainly some beautiful “flowers” developing within our

organization. We are grateful to our Board of Directors, dedicated staff, supporting congregations and other faithful contributors who make it possible for us to continue to provide our ministry to middle Tennessee.

A WORD FROM OUR BOARD PRESIDENT

by Ed Cole, President of the Board of Directors

"As we move into a new year, the life of the Pastoral

Counseling Centers of Tennessee continues to grow and

strengthen. Throughout this newsletter are stories of our

clinical care and the committed professional staff that make this carepossible. There is evidence of our administrative staff and the critical contributions they make every day. There is a spotlight on our Board and a focus on the unselfish and invaluable leadership that each member provides. Included, too, is an illumination of our supporting congregations and the crucial support they provide. And then there are the individuals who have given resources for the ministry we provide. For all of these gifts, we are grateful.

This past year has made it clearer than ever that the initial vision that led to the creation of PCCT continues to sustain us. As we have strengthened our financial base, implemented new models for funding and providing clinical services, and continued to grow our development and outreach functions, we have affirmed the value providing caring support to individuals and families that draws on the best pastoral and clinical resources available in Middle Tennessee. On behalf of all whose lives are better because of this, I say thank you."

DEVELOPMENT DOINGS

by Chrissa Walsh, Director of Finance and Development

The Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee proudly honored the Vanderbilt University Divinity School at our 2007 Founders Banquet, held October 4, 2007, at the William J. Fleming Center of the Cathedral of the Incarnation.

The Divinity School has been instrumental in the mission and work of this center since its founding in 1985. The late Dr. Liston O. Mills, Vanderbilt’s Oberlin Alumni Professor of Pastoral Theology and Counseling, was one of the original board members of PCCT. The founding of the center helped further his vision of pastoral care that augmented the work of congregationally based ministers. His work in the Divinity School to prepare all types of ministers through Clinical Pastoral Education and the training of graduate level professors of pastoral theology grounded in counseling experience led to further associations between the school and the center. To date more than 41 Vanderbilt graduates have gained insight into themselves through care at the center. Today, faculty member Dr. Amy-Jill Levine who serves on the PCCT Board of Directors represents the Divinity School. Dean James Hudnut-Beumler accepted the award on behalf of the Vanderbilt University Divinity School

presented to him by Mrs. Liston (Jennie) O. Mills.

Estelle Condra provided entertainment for the evening.

Estelle is known as a keynote performance artist as she travels from banquet hall to theatre stage providing inspirational and humorous one-woman show.

PCCT celebrates its two decades of fruitful relations with the

Vanderbilt University Divinity School and looks forward to

many more years of ministerial service together.

WHY WE GIVE

by REVEREND LEIGH SPRUILL, ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH

St. George’s is proud to support the ministries of the Pastoral Counseling Center. Over the years our parishioners have benefited from individual and family counseling from

the Center’s well-trained professionals. In recent years we have been particularly blessed by a Divorce Care series the Pastoral Counseling Center hosted at our church, as well as by a Growing Through Grief series for those who are bereaved. In the past, the Center has helped train parish volunteers on how to visit and befriend our fellow members in the hospitals and nursing homes. I recommend the support and services of the Pastoral Counseling Center to other

church leaders seeking referrals for those in emotional

need or crisis.

www.stgeorgesnash.org

Visist our website www.pcctinc.org

United Way Designation Code 8001

2008 PCCT Board of Directors

President-Ed Cole

Secretary-Maggie Tarpley

Treasurer-John Younger

Greg Bailey

John Brandon

Pat Cole

Linda Crane

Dr. Ben Curtis

Karen Dattilo

Carol Doidge

Linda Freemon

Brenda Gadd

Reverend David George

Reverend George Gracey-Clarksville Center Representative

Joe Hardy

Bess W. Henderson

Reverend Margaret Howell

Sue Jones

Reverend Thomas Kleinert

Dr. Amy-Jill Levine

Dr. Rusty McIntire

Jennie Mills

Tim Moss-Franklin Center Representative

Mary Lou O’Gorman

Dr. Robert Russell

Andrew Savage-Murfreesboro Center Representative

Paul Scott

Dr. David Tuleen

Reverend Mike Waldrop-North Center Representative

Pastoral Counseling Centers of TN Founding Board

Mary Jane Bailey

August 9, 1927 - August 24, 2006

Edward H. Cole

Patricia Cole

Dr. Liston O. Mills

August 7, 1928 - April 30, 2002

Dan P. Moseley

Dr. Addison B. Scoville

July 15, 1914 - August 10, 1998

Wilson Sims

William J. Tallent

.

2008 PCCT Staff

Director of Clinical Services/Interim

Co-Executive Director-Chris O’Rear

Director of Finance and

Development/Interim Co-Executive

Director-Chrissa Walsh

Bookkeeper Mrs. Clella Davis

Executive Assistant and Receptionist

Ms. Caroline McBride

Bookkeeping and Development

Assistant-Mrs. Jennie Thomas

Reverend Steve Gillespie

Dr. Craig Wascovich

Reverend Lee Miller

Reverend Eduardo Lelli

Mrs. Karen Potratz

Mrs. Florene Johns

Reverend Ken Murray

Dr. Jill Faughn

Reverend Jeff Fryer

Mr. Trey Holt

Mr. Jarrod Adams

Reverend Tom Gildemeister

Ms. Kate Lassiter

Ms. Elizabeth Madden

Ms. Liz Zagatta

Archived Issues:

Winter 2006: In With the New Joy or Dread

Fall 2005 : Surely He Knows What We Need

Spring 2005 : Changes of Life

Winter 2005: Changing of the Guard

Fall 2004: Saying Goodbye
Summer 2004
Winter 2003: Nurturing the Institution
Fall 2002
Summer 2002
Spring 2002
Winter 2002: Ethics In The Workplace
Fall 2001: Room for Laughter
Spring 2001: Suicide - A Loss of Hope
Winter 2001: Helping a Child Through Loss
Fall 2000: Adolescence and Substance Abuse
Summer 2000: Hospitality, A Context for Care and Healing
Spring 2000: The Cry of Anguish