The First Presbyterian Church of Michigan City has experienced a drastic decline in membership in the last thirty years. The woundedness which has resulted from a tumultuous past is significant and warrants a clear theological and systemic response, in order to foster a radical transformation toward reconciliation. The congregation and I are devoted to a healthy long-term relationship with each other, as we together discern God’s will and vision for authentic ministry. Because we as Christians believe in the resurrection, we must also believe in the reconciliation of human relationships. The parable of the loving father (or of the prodigal son) is one which describes the everlasting covenant made between God and humanity. This covenant is not only made between God and humanity, but also between God and humans in community, so that they might individually, and as a group, live into the God’s reconciling love. The student plans to educate the congregation regarding the various aspects of woundedness (shame, guilt and resentment), as well as the steps toward forgiveness, one of which is empathy. Through an education of spiritual type and generational differences, empathy for one another will be fostered. The student plans to disseminate this information through a five-week lecture and discussion series. The lectures will include the various aspects of woundedness, as well as the steps for forgiveness, framed by the scriptural story of the Prodigal Son. The weekly discussions will continue the themes of woundedness and forgiveness with an added emphasis on spiritual type and generational differences. This added emphasis will begin to heighten the amount of empathy each has for the other. At the end of the fifth dinner and discussion, each participant will complete an evaluation form in order to measure the amount of growth and understanding in the subject of reconciliation, as well as the amount of empathy gained for others. I will also listen in pastoral care and conversation when either the wounds or the spiritual/generational type are discussed.
