Summer 2002

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

Partners in Caring Since 1985

By James R. Coffman

A GOOD AND DECENT MAN
Ifirst heard of Liston O. Mills at Southern Baptist Theological
Seminary while doing a Th.M. degree with Wayne Oates. We had
Oates at the Pastoral Counseling Centers in the mid-'90's and he
expressed deep appreciation for Liston. Wayne Oates' influence was embedded in both of us in two important ways: his limitless respect for the pastoral role and a belief that the seminary curriculum was to be integrated in one's pastoral function. Integration for Wayne Oates meant being in supervision, and particularly CPE supervision and pastoral counseling supervision. We graduate students were in CPE and pastoral counseling
supervision constantly, trying to understand what our classroom
discoveries meant in lived experience.

Liston went to Southern Seminary from Davidson College several years after the emergence of the modern clinical pastoral care and counseling movement. This movement, dating back to the 1920's with leaders like William Keller, Richard Cabot, Anton Boisen, Philip Guiles and Russell Dicks, was given new leadership in a second generation with teachers like Wayne Oates, Seward Hiltner, Carroll Wise, and others in the 1950's and 1960's. Wayne Oates was the most prolific writer of the group, and with the help of Swan Haworth, developed an impressive seedbed for pastoral care and counseling in seminary and graduate studies. I say this to introduce the context from which Liston's contributions were to come. Liston was quick to quote a college history professor's favorite adage:

You dwell in cities you did not build, And have been given houses filled with all things you did not fill.
You drink from wells which you did not dig and reap from vineyards you did not plant.
So when you have eaten and been filled, beware lest you forget.

Liston did not forget. He learned well with Oates and Haworth. He
understood that he stood on the shoulders of men and women reflected in thousands of years of Jewish and Christian care and pastoral theology. The "Theological Foundations of Pastoral Care" was one of his favorite courses. Pastoral care and counseling has a distinguished history, and he bore witness.

Liston's interest extended beyond academic and professional areas. He invested in the development of institutions. He loved Vanderbilt Divinity School and served it faithfully for 38 years. He birthed the Vanderbilt graduate program in Religion and Personality. He served institutions as an advisor regarding their chaplaincy, medical, and counseling services. A Clinical Pastoral Education Certified Supervisor, he served as a chaplain consultant to the medical director at Nashville V.A. Medical Center for nearly 30 years, several times managing the program during critical transitions in leadership. The program is the oldest sustained program in the Southeastern United States. He taught a Sunday School Class with diverse, imaginative members. In the early 1980's Dan Moseley, then pastor at Vine Street Christian Church, talked with Liston about starting a counseling ministry. With a small group of lay colleagues, they set about the difficult task of
developing an institution for pastoral counseling. When Liston first asked me to consider the job of Executive Director, I declined, but six months later with the vision of an ecumenical, congregation-supported center and the opportunity of doing further graduate study with Liston and Peggy Way, I returned to Nashville. It was one of my best decisions. We wanted an organization that would work with people from all faith perspectives and without regard for their ability to pay the cost of
services. The financial challenges for asserting a mission like this were tremendous, and it took many generous people to help create an institution for doing this-including a significant gift from P.V. Jackson, who died in early June. We wanted to be involved with the religious community, so the institution would provide enrichment seminars and workshops for congregations. And we would be a training center, beginning with our supervising the graduate students and doing CPE at the V.A. Medical Center.

Our organization bears so much of Mills' influence. Most
importantly, we are a "pastoral" service. We wanted a service that
extended beyond the labors of the independent practitioner, one in active relationship with many different congregations. Policies and procedures would help in setting accountabilities for staff and constituents. Fundraising would become an ongoing work, in order for us to represent our religious communities' hospitality to the least of these. Many of Liston's students trained with us, and some joined our staff as pastoral counselors. Interdisciplinary conversations have been rich through his introductions to other professionals. He served as President of our Board of Directors. His friendships brought friends to our Board. His consultation to our organization was invaluable.

In January 1999 Liston was diagnosed with angiosarcoma of the face and scalp. While the cancer was aggressive, he approached this problem as he had others: realistically observing the cancer's intrusion, reflecting on his response to it, and living and loving in the face of his experience with it. Liston once told me that he didn't mind dying, it was leaving that was difficult. I had the feeling he was observing us in this three-year process as much as we were observing him. In our conversations, he never reflected on why this happened to him. Rather, he acknowledged it was happening to him. While we would curse its presence in his body, our conversations revealed a man who trusted God in the face of a devastating cancer.

The highest compliment Liston passed on to another was that this
person was "a good and decent person." Liston O. Mills was a good and decent man. We miss him greatly and remember Jennie and Sarah in their bereavement. Thanks be to God for his life of faith and service.

**** If you would like to contribute to the memory of Liston Mills and share in the mission of PCCT, please contact the Development Office to make a gift @ 615-383-2115 x 23. Or click here to download, print and mail the pledge card to: Development Office, PCCT, 100 Vine Court, Nashville, TN 37205. ****

DEVELOPMENT DOINGS
The Rivergate Pastoral Counseling Center has moved to
a new home! Mr. and Mrs. John Evans of NEXT
GENERATION UNDERWRITERS, have graciously
provided a spacious and professional suite in the Hamilton
Building, 111 Hazel Path, Suite 4, Hendersonville, TN 37075. The new phone number is 615-338-4171. Please stop by and visit our new location during our Open House, June 30, 2002 from 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Dr. Gilbert Roth and the center secretary, Melinda Bell, will be there to greet you and answer any questions you may have.

The Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee wish to thank Mary Cay Koen, D.D.S. for her hospitality in sharing office space for the last three years. The Rivergate Pastoral Counseling Center was at 2020 Caldwell Drive, Ste. # 2, Goodlettsville, Tennessee 37072 with Dr. Koen until the move to Hendersonville on June 1. The generosity of so many has enabled us to provide a ministry of care to those in need of our services. Thank you Mary Cay.

Thank you, Mary Jane!
How does any organization get along without volunteers? It truly cannot be done. The Pastoral Counseling Centers of Tennessee could not have made it over the last several months without the help of a tireless and dedicated woman, Mary Jane Bailey. The Vine Street Center has been under a painstaking yet necessary,
renovation process. New wood floors, carpet, paint, curtains, blinds, furniturem refinishing and new furnishings have appeared through the efforts of Ms. Bailey's extraordinary coordinating skills. With the grants given from The Memorial Foundation, The HCA Foundation and the Predators Foundation, these changes have been made to the offices located at 100 Vine Court, Nashville, Tennessee and a children's play therapy room has been added. We are now able to provide a more professional and aesthetically
pleasing environment for counseling services, church gatherings and business meetings. We will hold an Open House in the Fall and invite you to join us for a tour of the facility. We are grateful to Mary Jane Bailey, Chair and her committee members, Marilyn Bird, Dan Kuhn, Marguerita Riggall, Scott Smith and Sue Swensson for their leadership in this process.

WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE GIFTS FROM THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS:
Benefactor's Fellowship
The Memorial Foundation

Advocate's Fellowship
Predators Foundation
The Atticus Trust

IN MEMORY OF LISTON O. MILLS
Ms. Doris A. Akers
Mrs. Mary H. Allen
Mr. G. Martin Amacher
Mr. Bob and Mrs. Nancy Bowers
Mr. John and Mrs. Evelyn Brandon
Dr. Richard G. Bruehl
Dr. James R. Coffman
Mr. and Mrs. John D. Fort
Dr. S. J. and Mrs. Emily Gibbs
Dr. Frank and Mrs. Anne Gulley
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Hamilton
Mrs. Helene Harmon
Dr. Edward and Mrs. Stephanie Harvey
Mrs. Bess Henderson
Mr. Elton and Mrs. Jane Hinshaw
Mr. Don and Mrs. Sue Jones
Ms. M. Diana Johnston
Dr. Joretta Marshall
Mrs. A. B. Neil, Jr.
Dr. Dorothy Owens
Mr. Robert and Mrs. Adrienne Parker
Ms. Joyce Peacock
Bishop Joe and Mrs. Janene Pennel
Dr. Ida Long Rogers
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Rowan II
Mr. and Mrs. Richard C. Shadinger
Shelbyville Central High School
Ms. Faye Anthony Smith
Mr. Larry and Mrs. Ann Soderquist
Mrs. Allen Steele
Mr. Earl E. and Mrs. Sue Swensson
Dr. David and Mrs. Jean Tuleen
Mr. Louis and Mrs. Juanita Wilkinson

CALENDAR HIGHLIGHTS

Archived Issues:
Summer 2004
Summer 2002: A Good and Decent Man
Spring 2002: Being Theological
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