Shepherd Heart offers individualized ministry consultation that is compassionate and thoughtful- both spiritually sensitive and psychologically-minded, informed by family systems in a congregational setting. Ministry Consultation Services are for educational purposes only, to equip, encourage, and empower clergy, congregations and denominations.
About the Consultant: Melissa Hofstetter, PhD, MDiv, is an ordained minister in the Pacific Southwest Mennonite Conference (PSMC) of the Mennonite Church USA. Dr. Hofstetter holds a doctorate in psychology from Fuller Theological Seminary, and has served as university professor in areas of family systems & lifespan development, as well as neuroscience. She has served as district elder within PSMC, and offers ministry consultation & clergy education to pastors on various issues such as: healthy boundaries, clergy self-care, ethics of pastoral care & counseling, systems issues, mental health in the church, clergy mandatory reporting responsibilities, and other issues relevant to pastoral work.
Voluntarity: Consultation is voluntary. It is your choice – and solely your ethical and legal responsibility- as the Consultee to decide whether/how to use information given during consultation. By participating, you indicate that you wish to receive ministry consultation from Dr. Hofstetter.
Limits of Confidentiality: Respect the privacy of others, including your parishioners and pastoral colleagues. To the extent possible, you agree to not disclose identifying information to Dr. Hofstetter about individuals involved in the case consultation. Dr. Hofstetter may or may not take general notes in order to assist in your consultation. If taken, notes are confidentially maintained for a limited time before being destroyed.
As an ordained clergyperson residing in the state of California, Dr. Hofstetter is a mandated reporter when there is reasonable suspicion of child, elder or dependent adult abuse or neglect, which means that Dr. Hofstetter -like pastors in most states- has an ethical and legal responsibility to report such suspicion to appropriate agencies, like Child Protective Services or Adult Protective Services.
Consulting Sessions: Dr. Hofstetter’s Ministry Consulting Services are intended for educational purposes only. Dr. Hofstetter is not a lawyer. Her Ministry Consulting Services are not a substitute for legal consultation. Ministry Consultation Services fall under the scope of ministry coaching, and are not psychotherapy services. Appropriate legal and mental health referrals may be made as necessary. In cases of emergency, call 911.