Perkins October focus...Emphasizing domestic violence issues

Perkins School of Theology, SMU, Dallas, is observing October’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October through a variety of forums.

October is also Pastoral Care Month and Mental Health Month, and the Pastoral Care faculty at Perkins is giving attention to all of these themes in course offerings.

On Thursday, Paula Dobbs-Wiggins, M.D., adjunct associate professor of Pastoral Care, presented the annual symposium, “Mental Health & Spirituality: Bridging the Gap” on Oct. 15. The day’s activities continued with a focus on “The Conundrum of Adolescence” with presentations by Rev. Andy Stoker, M. Div., Ph.D., NTC associate director of Connectional Ministries for Life Stages Ministry, and Robert J. Harden, M.D.

On Thursday, October 22, Dr. Dobbs-Wiggans has invited Kristin Howell of the Genesis Women’s Shelter to address her “Mental Health Skills for Clergy” class on appropriate strategies for pastoral response to domestic violence. Members of the community are welcomed to audit the class, which meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in 201 Elizabeth Perkins Prothro Hall.

Dr. Jeanne Stevenson-Moessner, professor of Pastoral Care, has led her “Pastoral Care of Women” class through family violence intervention training with the New Beginning Center in Garland. The center educates clergy on professional protocols for responding to family violence, and staff from
the center recently visited Dr. Stevenson-Moessner’s classroom and awarded students with certificates of training.

For more information on events related to Domestic Violence Awareness Month, Pastoral Care Month, and Mental Health Month contact Dr. Stevenson-Moessner (jmoessne@smu.edu), 214-768-2433, or Dr. Paula Dobbs-Wiggins (pdobbswi@smu.edu), 214-768-2741.