Springfield Metropolitan Bar offers program for clergy

Families faced with difficult issues such as physical infirmities, mental health problems, the effects of aging and incapacitation often turn to clergy for guidance.

With that in mind, the Probate and Trust Committee of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association has scheduled a program specifically designed for area clergy and titled, "Clergy and the Courts."

According to a news release from the association, the program will educate clergy in southwest Missouri about probate court and other related issues in order that they can better counsel congregates regarding options available to them and also provide advice on where to turn for help. All clergy members are invited to attend.

The three-hour program will be held 1-4 p.m. Oct. 23 in a courtroom at the Greene County judicial facility, 1010 Boonville.

Topics to be covered include: Intro-duction to the Courts, Guardianships, Public Administrator's Office, Mental Health Issues, Durable Powers of Attor-ney/Health Care Directives, Probate, Charitable Giving/Estate Planning, and Community Resources/Springfield Met-ropolitan Bar Association.

Speakers will include attorneys and judges of the Probate Division of the Greene County Circuit Court.

Question-and-answer segments and a short break period will provide the clergy with an opportunity to meet and mingle with members of the guardianship, as well as members of the probate bench and bar.

The program is also supported by Commerce Bank Investment Manage-ment Group, Springfield Trust Company and Trust Company of the Ozarks.

According to the release, the SMBA is providing the program as part of its commitment to the community.