What’s clergy support about?
Clergy have a high-stress role that can be unpredictable, with long hours. Clergy hold a lot for others and experience direct exposure to a lot of suffering. Ministry and life are often enmeshed, making it difficult to take time away when social and family functions often happen in church circles. Researchers note that there are at least 64 distinct competencies required to complete all the tasks that are part of the clergy role—something that is practically impossible for any one clergyperson to do.
Clergy do not need a pep talk or a leadership seminar on how to get more done in a day. They need encouragement and permission to tend to themselves with as much love and compassion as they tend to others. This is a unique calling, and we honor it by honoring, loving, and supporting those who answer the call.
How do we support clergy?
We are committed to nurturing and supporting healthy clergy, and this includes opportunities to tend to the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of wellbeing. This will take shape in different ways as we learn more about the needs of clergy in the district.
Right now, we are focused on gathering together to enrich our collegial relationships and to tend to our whole selves. Throughout the year, there are invitations to gather for various activities in various locations around the district. All Mission Rivers District clergy (actively appointed, on leave, appointed to school, serving in extension, and retired) are invited and encouraged to attend when you are able. For clergy and congregations, please note that these gatherings (and the drive time it takes to attend) are considered working hours for clergy. These are not days off, but part of what it means to belong to a clergy order.
Learn about and register for upcoming clergy events here.
I’m clergy. How do I receive support?
Director of Clergy Support, Rev. Deborah Lewis, is available for one-on-one pastoral care conversations, offering referrals and connecting you with resources, and helping you take the next steps in tending to your whole self.
As a leader/SPRC member in my church, how can I support my pastor?
One way to do this is to ask yourself these questions and consider where your SPRC may need to broaden or deepen your ministry of support and care for your pastor:
- Do you pray regularly for your pastor and their family?
- Do you know when your pastor’s days off are (Sabbath and one other personal day)? Do you help communicate these (and their importance) to congregation members?
- Has your pastor taken any vacation yet this year? If not, have you asked about when it’s scheduled? Have you offered to help your pastor find someone to preach while he is away? In worship, when your pastor is away, do you offer full-throated support for her vacation time and pray for her rest and renewal?
- What continuing education opportunities has your pastor participated in this year? Do you encourage them in these pursuits? Do you offer to help find someone to preach and lead worship so your pastor can attend such events?
- When is the last time you reviewed your budgeted continuing education funds? Is it time to increase these?
- Have you encouraged your pastor to take part in our district’s new clergy gatherings?
- Do you help interpret the UMC commitment to continuing education, pastoral spiritual formation, and collegial clergy gatherings? Are you clear within your church that these events are not considered vacation or time off?
- Clergy put in long and sometimes unusual hours. Some pastors may take time in the middle of the day to attend to family needs (such as picking kids up from school and attending team sports matches). Some pastors may take care of their own exercise during the day (so they can go for a run while it’s light out, for example), stepping away for a few hours and then returning to church for an evening meeting or gathering. How do you encourage your pastor to take time for these important parts of life? How do you educate the congregation about the need for flexible hours like these?
- When your pastor is ill or recovering from surgery, are you proactive about communication with church members? Are you clear that sick days and recovery time are not vacation time? Do you help congregation members understand this? Do you offer to drop off groceries or a healthy meal?
- How often do you express your gratitude to and for your pastor? Do you offer thanks to him for routine things like a well-run meeting or an engaging Bible study? Do you take note of the things she does that are above and beyond, and let her know you see and appreciate these?
What about clergy support within the Virginia Annual Conference?
The Center for Clergy Excellence is a wonderful resource. Visit their website for more information about funding for continuing education and clergy development, resources for clergy families, ethics events and resources, spiritual formation, clergy effectiveness and self-care covenant, and much more.
