Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person
Brief History
Conference on Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person
In 1970, the founders of Medicine and Ministry accepted an invitation to attend a fantastic seminar in Majorca, Spain, on "The Adventure of Creative Living." The popular speaker at this unique occasion, sponsored by Faith at Work and Word Inc., was the esteemed Dr. Paul Tournier, a Swiss physician-counselor and author of more than 30 books. He was also the founder of the annual European conference for physicians known as "Médicine de la Personne."
While still at the conference, Dr. Dick Sosnowski and his wife, Elizabeth, and The Rev. George Kinnamon and his wife, Pat, talked about having a similar program in America. They felt strongly, however, that ministers and spouses should be included. Inspired by Dr. Tournier's presentation on "the whole person concept," they were compelled to share these insights with their friends and colleagues back home.
In no time, they met with one of those good friends, Dr. Norman Boyer (a psychiatrist) and his wife, Carolyn, in Tryon, N.C. The three couples then met again in the summer of 1970 for a brainstorming session on their ideas. "It was too good to let slip away," they agreed, but just to be certain, both the Sosnowskis and the Boyers decided to attend Dr. Tournier's summer European conference. They came home fired up and ready to design specific ways to introduce Dr. Tournier's "whole person" concepts to the people of America.
That fall they created a plan for The Conference of Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person, which would include both doctors and ministers. The conference goal would be to encourage and facilitate creative dialogue between the two disciplines so that each could be more effective in their respective roles. The first conference was held in November 1972 at Kanuga, the Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC and has continued to the present day.
Our list of keynote speakers is most impressive. Such notables as Reuel Howe, Paul Brand, Keith Miller, Lloyd Ogilvie, Norman Shealy, Michael Mayne, Harold Koenig, Bennet Sims, Gerald May, and many other wonderful individuals have shared their insights about "Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person" with us. Members of the European conference have visited with us and many of the M&M conference participants have attended the European sessions. A large number of our participants return to M&M every year to get re-energized.
Dr. Tournier twice came to our meeting before his death. We believe he remains present in spirit each time we meet. We honor his many declarations of truth by displaying his books and photos, as well as sharing his meaningful messages verbally. We do not consider him our Founder, or "Truth Guru," but we do honor him as a MODEL "whole person" and a dynamic professional who impacted significantly on thousands of friends and colleagues.
Dr. Tournier was a native of Geneva, Switzerland, where he, his wife Nellie, and their two sons spent their whole lives. This conference is a tribute to him, his great work, and the life-enhancing influence he has had on so many.
The Medicine and Ministry Conference is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation, registered in the State of South Carolina. Contributions and grants received by Medicine and Ministry are used for financial aid and scholarships for seminary and medical students, young physicians, ministers, and their spouses.
Founders
Dr. Norman and Carolyn Boyer (deceased)
Winston-Salem, NC
Dr. J. Richard (deceased) and Elizabeth Sosnowski
Wadmalaw Island, SC
Rev. George W. and Pat Kinnamon
Summerville, SC
843-873-1960
Past Conference Topics and Speakers
2022 Dr. Christina Puchalski & Rev. Dr. Trace Haythorn “Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person: Celebrating 50 Years”
2020 Willis J. Jenkins, Ph.D. “Whole Persons, Whole Earth: Theological Responses to Environmental Crisis”
2019 Brian D. McLaren. "Our Common History Re-examined: Searching for a New Story"
2018 Dr. Margaret Mohrmann, "Weave Us Together: The Obligations of Welcome in Clinical Practice and the Moral Life"
2017 Dr. Amy-Jill Levine, "Re-imagining How We See: Applying the Archetypal Stories of Scripture to Clinical Practice"
2016 Rev. Dr. John Philip Newell, “Soil, Soul, and Solidarity: A Journey into Wellbeing”
2015 Dr. James Nourse, Consciousness, Spirit, and Healing: Ancient Wisdom Speaks to Modern Humanity
2014 Dr. Phyllis Tickle, Faith, Work, Healing and Hope in the 21st Century
2013 Dr. Ed Tick, War and the Soul: Healing and Reconciliation after War
2012 Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Meaning and Accountability in an Overstressed World
2011 Dr. Christina Pulchalski, The Healing Relationship: Encountering the Sacred in Other and Self
2010 The Very Rev. Alan Jones, The Human Prospect: Recovery of the Sacred in Trying Times
2009 Lord George Carey, Health, Healing, and Human Flourishing
2008 Drs. Angelo & Erin L. Biviano, Healing and Sacrifice: Creating Community, Counting the Cost
2007 Father Richard Rohr, Healing, Contemplation, and Consciousness
2006 Dr. Margaret Mohrmann, Integrity, Vocation, and the Stories We Tell
2005 Dr. Norman Shealy, A More Holistic Paradigm for Medicine in the 21st Century
2004 The Rev. Dr. Lloyd Oglivie, Perspectives for the Future of Our World
2003 The Very Rev. Harry Pritchett, Jr, The Ministry of Restoration: Prayer, Community, and Mission
2002 Dr. Jim Graham, The Healing of the Whole Person from Addiction
2001 Rev. Peter Gorday, The Empathic Healer
2000 The Rt. Rev. Michael Mayne, My Own Journey Into Wholeness
1999 Conference Participants, Shared Ministry in Healing
1998 Keith Miller, The Secret Life of the Soul
1997 Rev. Dr. Keith Parker, Jung and Christianity
1996 Dr. Harold Koenig, Is Religion Good for Your Health?
1995 Rev. Robert Huff, The Road to Happiness
1994 Dr. Mary Faith Marshall & Rev. Dr. Wanda Neely, Ethical Decision Making for Clergy and Physicians
1993 Drs. Paul & Margaret Brand, The Laws of Healing
1992 The Rt. Rev. William Frey & Barbara Frey, The Healing Power of the Family of God
1991 Dr. Margaret Mohrmann, Theological Ethics and the Practice of Ministry and Medicine
1990 Dr. Gerald May, Addiction and Grace
1989 The Rt. Rev. Bennett Sims, The Power of Servanthood in Medicine and Ministry
1988 Dr. Carol Graf, Dr. Don Neblett, & Rev. Robert Haden, Healing Mind, Soul, and Body: Pathways to Wholeness
1987 Dr. Paul Brand, Self-Image in Relation to Wholeness
1986 Dr. Margaret Mohrmann, Rev. Richard Belser, Dr. William Rambo, Rev. Gray Temple, Dr. Ben Harnik, Rev. George Kinnamon,
Prayer, Healing and Wholeness
1985 Dr. Quentin Hyder, Loneliness and Rejection
1984 Rev. Dr. Richard Foster & Dr. Paul Tournier, Discipline and Discipleship
1983 Dr. Basil Jackson, Guilt and Grace
1982 Rev. Robert Huff, The Family
1981 Rev. Dr. Jerome Dollard & Dr. Kevin Soden, Stress
1980 Dr. Paul Brand, Pain
1979 Dr. Carol Graf, Dr. Richard Sosnowski, Rev. Gray Temple & Jean Temple, Sexuality and the Whole Person
1978 Rev. Dr. Dennis Campbell, Ethical Considerations
Dr. Paul Tournier also addressed the conference.
1977 Rev. Forrest Mobley, Dimensions of Healing
1976 Rev. Granger Westberg, The Person of the Person: Practicing Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person
1975 Rev. Dr. L.D. Johnson, Death and Dying
1974 Rev. Dr. Reuel Howe, Communication
1973 Drs. Gary Collins & Milton Kepler, Healing of Persons
1972 Dr. Ben Harnik, Conference on the Medicine and Ministry of the Whole Person
(Left to Right) Dr. Ben Harnik, Dr. Dick Sosnowski, Dr. Norm Boyer (standing), Dr. Carol Graf.
