Clergy Wellness

The Rev. Cheryl Fear speaks to the importance for pastors of cultivating relationships outside the Church. "Friends who are not involved in ministry will help you maintain your emotional balance, stretch your heart," she says, and they can also "help diminish the occupational loneliness that comes with the calling."

An impromptu jog in the spring with his children, eager to try out new bicycles, left Scott Klepach of Yakima: Wesley UMC with a new appreciation for proper running gear. It also caused him to reflect on the benefits of shared experiences and the relationships formed in them. As a student pastor, connections with other students, often facilitated by technology, have already made a positive impact.

By Denise McGuiness, PhD, M.Div | Pastoral Psychologist, Deacon We all know that life is stressful. In fact, without a certain amount of stress, life would...

"I know that I am not alone in my difficulty with saying no. There are a lot of clergy who suffer from the same ailment." Sue Magrath reflects on the needed discipline of saying "no" and makes a case for exploring the hidden, unnamed, motivations of our "Yeses."

By Rev. John J. Shaffer As I reflect on my 51 years in ministry, I am aware that ministry, for the most part, remained fun...

For this month’s installment of the Clergy Wellness Corner, Sue Magrath gets some insight on renewal leave from the Rev. Derek McGuckin, pastor at Riverview United Methodist Church in Pasco, Washington. McGuckin, who took a renewal leave recently, describes them as essential and offers some practical pointers from his experience.

By Sam & Christy Geyer* When I was appointed to serve as the pastor of White Salmon UMC, my wife Christy was not able to...

By the Rev. Dr. Mary Boyd | Langley UMC When I was appointed as pastor of a church in Seattle a few years ago, I was informed...

Rev. David Tinney | Senior Pastor, Vancouver First UMC I really think photography ought to be added to the list of spiritual disciplines. As we...

For her latest wellness post, Sue Magrath intended to encourage clergy to "attend to their own spiritual Advent journey" but a call to serve as an interim lay person over the season is causing her to reevaluate and redevelop advice that is realistic.