Clergy Wellness Corner: Saying Yes

"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."

Clergy Wellness Corner: Avoiding Burnout

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...

Renewal Leave Essentials

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.

Living Apart: A God Who Bears Our Burdens

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

Clergy Wellness Corner: Seeking Support

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...

Clergy Wellness Corner: “Focus” on the Holy

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

A Mindful Advent

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.

Compassion Fatigue

By Rev. Joy Martin, ordained deacon Imagine my surprise when an accomplished organizational development author and speaker once told me, "Your problem is that you...

Sabbatical Wisdom

By the Rev. DJ del Rosario In the summer of 2016, I engaged in my first sabbatical as a United Methodist clergy person. In reflecting on...

The Blessing of Friends Outside of Ministry

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."

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