I am Deborah Lewis, your Director of Clergy Support. I am an ordained elder, and previously served on the Board of Ordained Ministry, where I have witnessed the range of clergy tending (or not) to the whole self. I have witnessed clergy with strong support systems, professional boundaries, and personal habits who were able to thrive in extremely challenging times—and I have seen others who struggled without these and other resources in place. And the difference is not simply a matter of individual clergy talents and persistence. The “clergy ecosystem”—local church, denomination, supervisors, colleagues, seminaries, grantors—all have parts to play in nurturing and supporting healthy clergy. I am thrilled that Mission Rivers is taking this step to be a proactive part of the ecosystem. I have a long interest in how clergy take good care of ourselves, while taking care of so many others. I hope for us to lean into and trust God’s abundant love and grace for us, even when there is still more on the “to do” list. I hope for us to learn together, as we get to know one another better across the district.
I am delighted to be serving in this new role, which brings together so many threads from my life, ministry, and recent study and training. After serving in campus ministry for over 20 years, I completed a master’s degree in counseling, including an independent study on “Clergy Healing, Self-care, and Resilience.” Currently, I am appointed half-time as Director of Clergy Support and half-time as a pastoral counselor (resident) at Peninsula Pastoral Counseling Center, where I have facilitated support groups for clergy.
