The Wayne E. Oates Institute is a Connected Learning Community exploring spirituality and health as a way to advance integrative care for the whole person. The Oates Institute is a non-profit educational organization made up of caregivers from the medical, spiritual and counseling communities providing a forum for joining together as an interdisciplinary dialogue toward understanding the relationship between spirituality and the healing process.

In the process of giving care to others, care givers often overlook their own practice of self-care. Care givers--including pastors, chaplains, and counselors -- often feel that they do not have the time or permission to take time to rest and meet their own needs for sustaining their  health. Unfortunately, when care givers do not tend to their own well-being, those they care for also pay a price.

To help care givers with their self care, the Oates Institute will offer two Care of Self seminars during the July session. One is the very popular Nurturing Silence and Sabbath seminar. The other is the Care Giver's Mental Health. Both seminars will be offered online July 13-31.

The Conversation with Dr. Georgine Buckwalter on Growing Spiritually through Life's Aging Transitions has been rescheduled for Thursday, July 9, 7:30-9 pm EDT. Dr. Buckwalter, Director of Pastoral Care at the Episcopal Church Home in Louisville, Kentucky and Chaplain of St. Luke’s Chapel, challenges the American idea that “successful aging” is when one can live proudly and independently without the help of anyone else. She suggests instead that, “successful aging can happen when one is flat on their back on oxygen – or when one is graciously receiving care as well as giving it.” She adds, “holy surrender to circumstances or holy cooperation with circumstances is never spiritual failure!”

Dr. Allan Josephson has been named the 2009 recipient of the Oates Award. Allan Josephson serves in Louisville, Kentucky as the Chief Executive Officer of the Bingham Child Guidance Center, Professor and Associate Chair for Child and Adolescent Programs, and Division Director of Child, Adolescent and Family Psychiatry at University of Louisville School of Medicine.

Dr. Josephson is a prolific writer in his professional discipline and has taught and spoken to many national organizations, schools, community agencies, churches, and media on subjects related to child, adolescent and family mental health, religion, and spirituality.