Every church thinks they are welcoming. Today’s unchurched though have different ideas about what it means to be truly welcoming! This workshop will cover three aims of modern hospitality: safe place, people matter, joyful energy.

Forrest Parkinson, LMSW, LP, is pastor of The Community Church of Syosset, NY and a pastoral counselor with Lutheran Counseling Center. He is a Licensed Psychoanalyst, having obtained a certificate in Psychoanalysis from Blanton-Peale Institute in 2005. Pastor Parkinson also has an MSW from State University of NY, Stony Brook. He received his MDiv degree from Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, NY and has full ministerial standing with the United Church of Christ. He also has an MS in Special Education & Emotional Disabilities from LIU at CW Post in Brookville, NY. Pastor Parkinson has two years postgraduate training in Analytical Psychology at the CG Jung Institute and is also a certified Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition.