Greetings to all in the Love of Jesus Christ:
Last month I wrote about our visioning process and shared our mission and values as Disciples in Arizona. This month I will begin to share some of our new strategic goals. Let’s begin with Clergy Wellness.
The term “pastor” means shepherd, one who cares for the flock. To pastor means to care for people, to care for the community. Sometimes care is a simple check-in, and sometimes care means being present in some intense and difficult situations. Our pastors and our chaplains are trained to focus on the needs of others, to act in the best interests of others, to seek the well-being of the community.
But within the church, care is not just a one-way street. Pastors are human beings with needs – financial needs, physical needs, emotional and spiritual needs. Pastors need to be healthy, need to have their needs met, in order to be able to care for others. A pastor dealing with huge financial stress may have depleted energy to care for the congregation. A pastor who never gets a break may have fewer emotional resources to deal with difficult situations. Pastors are people too – and the healthier they are, they better they are able to serve the church.
Therefore, the Regional Board has named Clergy Wellness as one of our strategic goals for the next few years. We are encouraging all of our congregations to develop or review their plan for promoting clergy wellness. This may include an annual review of the Letter of Call – the basic terms of agreement between pastor and congregation. Is the congregation paying a salary and offering benefits that sufficiently support their pastor? Does the congregation have a Pastoral Relations Committee to help support the pastor? (Disciples have great guidelines for how to do this well.) Are there extra things the congregation offers to help the pastor feel appreciated – a gym membership or other fun perks (different things work better for different pastors)? Does the congregation publish the pastor’s sabbath day in the newsletter and on the church calendar so everyone is aware?
As part of this initiative, the Regional Commission on Ministry is developing a list of possible benefits, a list of extras that congregations can offer their pastors to help promote Clergy Wellness. We are inviting PRCs and personnel committees to a zoom meeting to discuss options and to have a conversation on this topic on July 7 at 7:00pm. Click here to register for the conversation. And as always, I am available to discuss any of this with any clergyperson or congregational leadership.
October is known as “Pastor Appreciation Month,” and it would be exciting if this October our congregations showed their appreciation to their pastor by adding at least one element to a “clergy wellness package” for 2027. Because a healthy pastor helps make a healthy church.
Dios les bendiga!
Pastor Jay
Regional Minister and President
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Arizona
