Santa Barbara, CA
What's one of your hobbies?
From my days as a volunteer firefighter, I still collect insignia from public safety organizations.
What is a fun fact about you?
I’ve kissed the Blarney Stone.
What is your current role outside of ICTG?
I volunteer with the American Red Cross and serve as their Advisor for Disaster Spiritual Care for the central California region.
Why are you committed to ICTG?
Before retirement I worked for twenty years as a Professional Transition Specialist and faculty member of the Interim Ministry Network, coaching communities of faith undergoing transitions following traumatic and difficult events. From this experience I discovered the critical need for resources to be made available to congregations and others as they move from reactivity to creativity in their journey forward. I stay with ICTG because in our environment of increasing instability and violence ICTG is making a difference.
What have you learned personally from your time working with ICTG?
Watching the remedial work ICTG does with congregations and organizations has reinforced my beliefs about the possibilities for healthy and productive lives available to groups after serious disruptions.
What role do you think congregations play in helping people and communities heal after trauma and disaster?
Congregations are systems and systems have set patterns of behavior. It’s difficult to initiate change in any system even in the best of circumstances and it’s particularly difficult after something unexpected happens. Imposing change on a system from the top or the outside rarely works. The only way real change can take place in a system is when a fundamental shift of thinking takes place at its center. ICTG’s model is to offer resources and training to congregations facing change after trauma or disaster so together they can understand their options and potential before moving forward in a positive way.
Learn more about Mort here >
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* Interested in becoming an ICTG Board Director or Advisor? Contact Executive Director Rev. Dr. Kate Wiebe