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August 2009 |
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Ministry Mentors® |
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Regional Clusters
Illinois
Dr. Arthur A. R. Nelson,
Leader Rev. Jo Ann Deasy Rev. Marc Eix Rev. Herbert Hedstrom Dr. Everett Jackson Rev. José La Luz
Rev. Virgil A. Robinson, Jr., Leader
Dr. Gessel Berry, Jr. Rev. Sheri Delvin Rev. Peter J. Hawkinson Dr. Emery Percell Dr. Kirk Reed
Dr. James E. Roghair Thomas Ventura, Leader
Dr. Donald Dempsey Rev. Howard Roberts Rev. Kory Wilcoxson
Dr. D.
Darrell Griffin,
Leader Colorado Dr. Ralph D. Anderson, Leader Dr. John Bengston Rev. Philip N. Erlander Rev. Jerry Jordan Rev. Hank Maertens Rev. Linda Patzke Rev. Kenneth C. Stenman Dr. Rodney Schofield, Consultant
Florida Dr. Frank S. Lee, Leader Rev. Michael Basden Dr. Ronald M. Patterson
Dr. Ted Sauter
North Carolina Rev. Linda Foster Momsen, Leader
Rev. Joseph Harvard Rev. Ruth Harper Stevens Dr. Gates Vrooman
Wisconsin Dr. Richard H. Jones, Leader
Rev. Bruce Bartel Rev. David Busker Rev. Frank Gaylord
Rev. Sandra Gaylord
Rev. Lynn Kollath
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Ministry Mentors
Enhances
the professional effectiveness of active clergy,
This is the second in a three-part series offering thoughts about each
one of our three hoped for goals for assisting pastors.
The second part of our mission statement: “Strengthens their [the pastors’] personal and spiritual health,” describes Ministry Mentors’ desire to encourage and assist pastors as they seek to become healthy in all aspects of life. Pastors function best when they experience good health–care of their bodies, minds, spirits, emotions, marriage, and family relationships–and healthy relationships with their coworkers and congregation.
Although pastors know that the concepts of health and wholeness are
integral to both the Old and New Testaments, pastors often forget to
exercise self-care. In a Duke University Divinity School study, pastors
were found to be among the highest professionals at risk for
heart-related illnesses. Many concerns facing pastors could be greatly
aided by a regular exercise program, a healthy diet, adequate sleep, and
regular time off for mental and physical rejuvenation–all issues
requiring time and attention. In a similar manner, pastors may often neglect their own spiritual health, mistaking time spent in preparing for sermons, teaching classes, and worship services as a substitute for personal spiritual nourishment. When the focus is on preparing for or conducting a pastoral role, the pastor is often too close to the trees to see the beauty of the forest. When a Ministry Mentors team member prays with and for the pastor being mentored, pastors often comment that, although they regularly pray for others, it is rare for them to be the focus of the prayer. As the second part of our mission statement, in addition to offering assistance in striving for excellence in pastoral ministry duties, Mentors often ask the pastor being mentored about their own health, concerns, and joys relating to a spouse and children, and if they are engaged in self-care. Pastors often comment that they appreciate the fact that their Mentor was “pastoring” them, offering shepherding support that was unique from all other collegial relationships. The knowledge that all content in every mentoring session is kept in the strictest confidence gives the pastor a “safe place” to be open to share important personal as well as professional issues. When Jesus told his disciples to “tend my sheep,” (John 21:16) Ministry Mentors believes that the command was that we should care for one another, including supporting those who offer care for others.
Dr. Donald H. Fagerberg
©Ministry Mentors, August 2009 |
