Clergy Wellness

With churches unable to gather for Sunday together physically, many pastors are walking an unfamiliar path. For the Clergy Wellness blog, Sue Magrath uncovers new meaning and direction in a familiar metaphor.

In a post for the clergy wellness blog, Rev. Laura Baumgartner writes about dual relationships, something that can be hard to avoid and require careful navigation. She identifies transparency, good boundaries, and prayer as tools to avoid harm and to allow God to work through these relationships.

"I have served for more than a decade in this Conference, and my experience is that local churches accept CR/CC appointments with a mix of enthusiasm and trepidation," writes Rev. Denise Roberts. Her post on Cross-Racial/Cross-Cultural appointments focuses on the special attention needed to healthy relationships to maintain clergy wellness.

In a post for the Clergy Wellness blog, Rev. Dr. Denise McGuiness writes that many of us "spend most of their time living in their heads." This may be even more true for clergy. McGuiness points to art as an excellent outlet and way to access our creativity.

"Do New Year resolutions ... make us better people, better Christians, better pastors?" Sue Magrath asks this question as the new year approaches and offers an alternative, more contemplative, approach.

By Sue Magrath, MC Many clergy have shared issues on this page that require a great deal of courage and vulnerability, revealing struggles with depression,...

"Why is chronic pain my superpower?" writes Rev. Jenny Smith, lead pastor at Marysville United Methodist Church. Smith explains that living with chronic pain has forced her to take seriously things like Sabbath and helpful boundaries. It has also given her empathy for many others who struggle in similar ways.

The Rev. Dr. Joanne Carlson Brown offers her insights on the unique challenges faced by queer clergy in The United Methodist Church when it comes to wellness. She speaks to the value of sacred community and love in providing necessary support.

In her post for the Clergy Wellness Corner, Rev. Lara Bolger talks about the importance of finding support for the hard work of ministry. Especially "during this tumultuous time in the life of our denomination," she argues that clergy "can really hold each other up."

While there is no one right way to navigate clergy wellness, times like these do require intentionality according to the Rev. Laura Baumgartner. Laura shares how the practice of Yoga has helped her to listen deeply to the messages her body is sending her.