Join us for an inspiring Educational Workshop with Dr. William (Bill) Hoy

Date:
October 13 - 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
October 14 - 8 a.m. - 10 a.m.

Register by September 28, 2026. Register early; space is limited.

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About The Conference

Shepherding People through Grief

One of the most compelling pictures of Jesus in the New Testament and of pastoral care as outlined there is the image of the “shepherd.” Often, as individuals in congregations face loss, they struggle like “sheep without a shepherd,” so pastoral caregivers and ministry teams provide vital and necessary support to individuals and families facing crises. Our fall workshops for congregational leaders and volunteers weave together the nature of the shepherd’s work with practical tools for ministry among people facing serious illness and loss.

Conference Location:

Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory

2421 Willow Street Pike

Willow Street, PA 17584

Who Should Attend?

During these workshops, we will discuss how to best employ the image of the shepherd among hurting people.
While all are welcome to either workshop, the Tuesday evening workshop is especially designed for volunteer caregivers such as small group leaders, bereavement ministry volunteers, and GriefShare facilitators.
The Wednesday morning workshop is especially designed for pastors, health care chaplains, and others whose professional ministry role includes caring for the dying and bereaved.

Presenters

Leading both of these conversations will be William G. (Bill) Hoy, a pastor and counselor with decades of experience in shepherding the dying and bereaved. Dr. Hoy retired from his post as Clinical Professor of Medical Humanities at Baylor University in 2024, a post he had held for 12 years. Before that, he served congregations in California for about 15 years and directed the bereavement and pastoral care programs for a community-based hospice organization. In his retirement, he currently “shepherds” a group of mostly older adults in rural central Texas where he and his wife, Debbie, make their home.

Though Bill’s work has largely been in the direct care of the dying and bereaved, he is author of more than 250 articles and book chapters as well as seven books. His most recent book is Creating Meaning in Funerals: How Families and Communities Make Sense of Death (Routledge, 2025).

Objectives

At the conclusion of this conference, participants will be able to:

On Tuesday Night

Explain how the shepherd model relates to ministry volunteers
Demonstrate the importance of supportive presence, good questions, and engaged listening
Identify when and where to refer people who need more help

On Wednesday Morning

Describe the pastor's role as shepherd to broken hearts
Design funerals and memorial events that effectively shepherd bereaved family members and the entire community
Recruit and engage volunteers in bereavement ministry

Conference Agenda

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

6:00 p.m. — Dinner & Registration

6:30 p.m. — Evening Session

How the shepherd model relates to ministry volunteers
The importance of supportive presence, good questions, and engaged listening
When and where to refer people who need more help

7:45 p.m. — Closing Remarks

Wednesday, October 14, 2026

8:00 a.m. — Breakfast & Registration

8:30 a.m. — Morning Session

The pastor's role as shepherd to broken hearts
Creating funerals and memorial events that effectively shepherd bereaved family members and the entire community
Engaging volunteers in bereavement ministry

9:45 a.m. — Closing Remarks