Kenton Derstine

How might someone be truly helpful to another as they face the humdrum or the crisis of their life’s journey? How is it that some of the most well-intentioned efforts at “help” turn out not to be helpful—even hurtful? How is it that a congregation of committed people can become so hurtful to each other? And, how is it that despite one’s best efforts one behaves in ways that seem abhorrent when observed in others? Exploring these and similar questions have challenged and energized Kenton’s journey as a member, pastor, chaplain, leader and pastoral educator—-and his students.

As Director of EMS’s Mentored Ministry programs Kenton is dedicated to an experiential learning process whereby participants have opportunity through a cycle of practice and reflection to explore their questions and convictions regarding what it means to minister as a follower of Jesus Christ. This learning process is informed by the conviction that learning is established when new insight informs new behaviors practiced again and again—when “practice” establishes a “practice.” My hope is that each student will be sufficiently challenged by some experience of ministry during their study at EMS that they will be thrust into new levels of theological reflection, self-examination and the experience of God’s love and grace.

Kenton is the eleventh of twelve children born to Abram and Ruth Derstine, life-long members of Souderton Mennonite church in Southeastern Pennsylvania. He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College—after a stint at the U. of Colorado. Active in the anti-Vietman War movement through much of his college years Kenton reneged on his acceptance into graduate school to study political science after spending a semester in Europe studying Anabaptist origins. He came to share the conviction of these spiritual forebears that the meaning of history and societal transformation lay more in the church than in political processes. Therefore, he entered the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary and with his wife joined the Fellowship of Hope Church and Community in Elkhart, IN. Commitment to the church as “community,” as a “demonstration plot” of the Kingdom of God has energized and focused his teaching and has been a point of connection with current emergent forms of the church.

Following graduating seminary Kenton entered Clinical Pastoral Education and served Chaplain Internships and Residencies in three different hospitals, eventually gaining certification as an ACPE Certified Educator. Included in his experience was his service as chaplain on the Critical Care units of Methodist Hospital of Indiana, home of the treatment team for drivers injured on the IndyCar racing circuit. Kenton came to EMS after serving for seven years as CPE Supervisor and CPE Program Manager at St. Vincent Hospitals, Indianapolis. Kenton and Rhoda are the parents of three adult children. Kenton has been a beekeeper for over forty years and is intrigued by the message that the world-wide die-off of honeybees has posed to modern life.

My calling in the area of experience-based learning is to guide a process whereby students may translate their clearest biblical vision and sense of call into wise and fruitful acts of ministry. This learning process requires the courage to risk new steps in ministry along with disciplined reflection. It is gratifying when students make discoveries about their relationship to self, others and God and are transformed through an awareness of being called and fruitful instruments for God’s purposes.

April 29, 2020 Bowen Center Theory Presentation, “BFST and CPE: A Natural Fit or a Mix of Oil and Water?” 

April 7, 2020, Bowen Center Faculty Case Study Presentation: Aging and Death: A Personal Family Study.”

February 1, 2020 Funeral Homily for Norman Trost, “A Dwelling Place for all Generations.” Williamsville, NY.

January 14, 2020, EMS School for Leadership Training; Plenary: “Living Human Documents: CPE Alumni on the Streets.”

November 18, 2019, EMS Chapel presentation: “The Poetics of Paying Attention”

April 3, 2019. Eastern Lancaster County Ministers Association (ELANCO). Presentation topic: Us Against Them? Toward An Understanding and Response to Polarization in Congregations and Society.

July 17, 2018. Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church Board of Ordained Ministry, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA. Presentation: Bowen Theory as a Resource for Formation In Ministry.

October 15, 2018. Lombard Mennonite Peace Center, Four lectures #1 The Life-Cycle Passage of Death and Dying; #2. Symptom Development: One Family Story. #3.  Crisis as Opportunity: Perspectives on Ministry from Family Systems, Theology & Research. #4.  Aging as a Multigenerational Family Process: Problems and Possibilities

May 22-23, 2018 Zhia Mian Institutue for Psychotherapy, Nangking, China An Introduction to Bowen Family Systems Theory. (2 days of presentations)

May 16-18, 2018, 2nd International Conference on Bowen Family Systems Theory:

Systems Thinking in Daily Life: Bowen Theory in Families, Organizations and Communities, Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Presentation topic: Bowen Theory and Formation in Ministry

June 23-24, 2017 Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship, Annual Gathering. Theme: Creating Healing Environments. Presentation: Healing Conversations Around Contentious Subjects.

May 24, 2017. Chesapeake Unitarian Universalist Association, Washington D.C. Thinking Systems While Leading Faith Communities

May 3, 2017 ACPE National Meeting: Theme: What We Need is Here. Co-Presentation Topic: Start Close In: Perspectives from Bowen Theory and Transformational Learning Theory for Building a CPE Curriculum. Minneapolis, Minn.

October 7, 2016, The 2nd Annual Conference on Bowen Theory and Its Applications: Emotional Process in Relationship Systems, Workshop: “Emotional Process in Faith Communities.”
 September 24-25, 2016, Richmond Mennonite Church - Annual Retreat, Williamsburg Retreat Center. Retreat Speaker: (four presentations and sermon) Theme: “Growing Up Into Christ: Bringing Your Best to All.”

June 18, 2016, Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship: Annual Gathering. Theme: Wholeness and Holiness: Views from the Mountaintop, Estes Park, CO.  Workshop: “The Impact of Death And Dying, Perspectives from Theology, Research and Family Systems.”

April 16, 2016. The Spring Meeting of The Bowen Center: Theme: “The Impact of Death and Dying: Perspectives from Evolution, Resilience and Family Systems.” George Mason University, Presentation: The Impact of Illness and Death: One Family Story

February 18, 2016, Extraordinary Leadership Seminar, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA. Presentation: “Case Studies of Leadership in Anxious Environments.”

January 28, 2016, EMS Chapel presentation, “Start Close In,”

September 21, 2015 – Seminar on Supervision, Mid-Atlantic Region of ACPE, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA. Workshop: “Applications of Bowen Theory to a CPE Curriculum.”

August 4, 2015 Conference: Bowen Theory Around the World: First International Conference on Bowen Family Systems Theory, Western Pennsylvania Family Center, Pittsburgh, PA Workshop: “Applications of Bowen Family Systems Theory to the Educational Process of CPE.”

October 7, 2016, The 2nd Annual Conference on Bowen Theory and Its Applications: Emotional Process in Relationship Systems, Workshop: “Emotional Process in Faith Communities.”

September 24-25, 2016, Richmond Mennonite Church – Annual Retreat, Williamsburg Retreat Center. Retreat Speaker: (four presentations and sermon) Theme: Growing Up Into Christ: Bringing Your Best to All.”

June 18, 2016, Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship: Annual Gathering. Estes Park, CO Workshop: “The Imact of Death And Dying, Perspectives from Theology, Research and Family Systems.”

April 16, 2016. The Spring Meeting of The Bowen Center: Theme: “The Impact of Death and Dying: Perspectives from Evolution, Resilience and Family Systems.” George Mason University, Presentation: The Impact of Illness and Death: One Family Story

February 18, 2016, Extraordinary Leadership Seminar, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA. Presentation: “Case Studies of Leadership in Anxious Environments.”

January 28, 2016, EMS Chapel presentation, “Start Close In,”

September 21, 2015 – Seminar on Supervision, Mid-Atlantic Region of ACPE, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA. Workshop: “Applications of Bowen Theory to a CPE Curriculum.”

August 4, 2015 Conference: Bowen Theory Around the World: First International Conference on Bowen Family Systems Theory, Western Pennsylvania Family Center, Pittsburgh, PA Workshop: “Applications of Bowen Family Systems Theory to the Educational Process of CPE.”

May 7, 2015 – Clergy Conference: Systems Thinking: Faith Communities and Leadership, The Bowen Center, Washington DC; Lecture: “Bowen Theory and Theology: Exploring the Connections.”

March 6-8, 2015, Mennonite Health Assembly, Cincinnati, Ohio. Workshop Presentation: “Ministering Toward a Vision”

February 11, 2015 – Extraordinary Leadership Seminar; lecture: “On the Formation and Function of Beliefs: Discerning the Spirits.”

December 10, 2014 Georgetown University Hospitals, Washington D.C. Presentation: “An Overview of Bowen Theory and Theological Presented an overview of Bowen Theory to Georgetown University Hospital CPE students and Chaplains

March 6-8, 2014, Mennonite Health Assembly, Kansas City, KS. Workshop Presentation: “The Poetics of Christian Formation and Calling”

January 20-22, 2014, EMS School for Leadership Training, Workshop: “Family Systems Theory as a Resource for Congregational Discernment.”

March 27, 2013 Presentation: “Ministry to Those Navigating the Life-Cycle Passage of Death.” Winchester Medical Center, Winchester, VA

March 12, 2013 EMS Chapel: The Poetics of Creation

January 22, 2013 EMS School for Leadership Training: Workshop: “The Family and the Brain: An Integrated Circuit”

January 8, 2013 Lecture: “On the Formation and Function of Beliefs, Extraordinary Leadership Seminary, Shenandoah University, Winchester, VA

=March 2, 2012 Formation For a Faithful Ministry: Theology and Theory Informing Ministry. “Mennonite Chaplains Association: Mennonite Health Assembly Annual Meeting,” Louisville, KY.

=November 30, 2011 Wisdom Care: Attending to the Openings In the Last Passage of Life. “Overflow: Revitalizing Pastors and Chaplains,” Garden Spot Village, New Holland, PA

Mennonite Chaplains Association, Executive Committee – Past President
Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship, Board Member, 2013-2019
The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Associate Faculty

ACPE Theory Integration Mentor

ACPE Certified Educator, Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.
Ordination credentials: Allegheny Conference of Mennonite Church USA

Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc.

Shenandoah Valley Beekeeper's Association

Mennonite Healthcare Fellowship

May 1, 2020, Midwest Symposium on Bowen Theory (On-line) Chicago, Presenters Robert Noone, PhD., Dr. Daniel Paper, Dr. Michael Kerr.

April 3-4, 2020, The Bowen Center Spring Conference, “Creating a Climate For Change” Guest Lecturer, Dr. John Gowdy, The Evolution and Impact of Human Ultrasociality with Climate Changes and Coronavirus as Examples (On-line)

February 14, 2020, Faith Leaders Conference, “The Hidden Life of Congregations and Their Leaders” Location: Online and at The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, Washington D.C. Dr. Emlyn Ott, Dr. Carol Jeunette, and Rev. Ed Henley.

January 13-15, 2020, EMS SLT

November 8-9, 2019 Bowen Center’s Annual Symposium on Family Theory and Family Psychotherapy. Guest lecturer, Dr. Karl Pillemer, “Family Rifts and How to Mend Them.” & Translating Research into Real Life Practice.”  

April 12-13, 2019 Bowen Center Spring Meeting, “Exploring a Systems View of Leadership

January 17, 2019. “Us Against Them: Polarization In Congregations and Society” Dr. Ron Richardson: A conference for faith leaders sponsored by the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family held at George Mason University, Arlington, VA.

November 9, 2018 55th Annual Symposium of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, George Mason University, Arlington, VA. Guest Lecturer, Thomas Seeley PhD.

November 15, 2018. Bowen Theory’s Secrets: The Hidden Lives of Families. Sponsored by the ClergyVoyagers and hosted by Christ the King Seminary, East Aurora, NY.

May 16-18, 2018, 2nd International Conference on Bowen  Family Systems Theory:

Systems Thinking in Daily Life: Bowen Theory in Families, Organizations and Communities, Hong Kong Polytechnic University

April 13-14, 2018. The Family and Child Development: A Systems Approach to Theory and Practice (2018) Sponsored by the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family and held at George Mason University, Arlington, VA.

May 3-5, 2017 ACPE Annual Conference, Minneapolis, Minn.

November 4-5, 2016 53rd Annual Symposium of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, George Mason University, Arlington, VA.

April 15-16, 2016, The Spring Meeting of The Bowen Center: “The Impact of Death and Dying: Perspectives from Evolution, Resilience and Family Systems.” George Mason University,

April 14, 2016 The Bowen Center Clinical Conference, Theme: “Family Reaction To Death,” Dr. Anne McKnight D.Ed.

November 13-14, 2015 52nd Annual Symposium of the Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, John Hopkins University, Rockville, MD.

September 21-22, 2015 - Mid-Atlantic Region of ACPE Annual Meeting, Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA Plenary Address: “”Using Appreciative Inquiry in CPE,” Dr. Trace Haythorne, Exec. Dir. ACPE

August 2-5, 2015 Conference: Bowen Theory Around the World: First International Conference on Bowen Family Systems Theory, Western Pennsylvania Family Center, Pittsburgh, PA.

May 10, 2015 – Bowen Center Lecture: Defining a Self in Family, Profession, and Society, Peter Titelman, PhD

April 17-18, 2015 – Bowen Center Spring Conference, “For Self and For Family: The Process of Differentiation of Self” – Washington, DC

April 15, 2015 – Bowen Center Lecture, Attachment and Differentiation in Rhesus Monkey Infants, Stephen J. Suomi, PhD

February 6, 2015 – Bowen Center Clinical Conference, Exploration of Family of Origin: Advances Toward Objectivity and Neutrality, Mariana Martinez, PsyD

January 9, 2015 – Bowen Center Clinical Conference, “Back to Basics: Considering Steps Toward Differentiation of Self, Douglas C. Murphy, MA, LCMFT

January 8, 2015 – Love and the Primary Triangle: An Evolutionary Perspective on Gender and Stress Reactivity, Margaret Donley LSCSW

December 12, 2014 – Bowen Center Clinical Conference, “Child Focus: Family and Institutional Perspectives, David S. Hargrove, PhD

November 7-8, 2014 – Bowen Center Symposium on Family Theory and Family Psychotherapy, George Mason University, Arlington, VA

November 13, 2014 – Voyagers Group Clergy Day, “Bowen Theory and Theology: What Does God Have to Do With It” St. John’s Episcopal, McLean, VA

November 6, 2014 – Bowen Center Clinical Conference, The Process of Differentiation
Daniel V. Papero, PhD, LCSW-C, LICSW

September 8-10, 2014 – Bowen Center Post-Graduate Program in Bowen Family Systems Theory, Washington DC

May 7-10, 2014 ACPE Annual Conference, Austin, TX. “Wired and Weird: Leading With Identity, Innovation and Improvisation in a Time of Change”

June 21-23, 2013 – Annual Gathering of the Mennonite Health Fellowship, Theme: “Moral Dilemmas in Healthcare,” Goshen, IN

May 15-18, 2013 – ACPE National Conference: “Get Your Motor Running: Recreation and Rediscovery for Spiritual Health,” Indianapolis, IN

February 13-16, 2013 Mennonite Health Assembly: Mennonite Chaplains Association, Orlando, FL

January 24-26, 2013 Bi-Annual Conference of the Association for Theological Field Education, Williamsburg, VA

January 21-23 EMS School for Leadership Training. The Church as a Healing Space

September 24-25, 2012 Mid-Atlantic Region of ACPE Annual Meeting, Rosslyn Retreat Center, Richmond, VA

2019-2020 EMS Academic Committee

CPE Profesisonal Advisory Group