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Intellectual Well‑Being


…involves the way that we engage the world with our minds, including our learning, knowledge, ministry competences, creativity, and the practice of curiosity.

“you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” (Mark 12.30)

One thing that I can do right now:

Teacher

What is the most important book you have read? In seminary? In church? Preparing for a sermon? If you still have a copy of it, go back and re-read it (or at least peruse any notes or underlined sections). Reflect on why this work was important for you, and what it might continue to teach you.

Spiritual practices for intellectual wellness:

Richard Foster, in his classic book Celebration of Discipline, reminds us of the importance of the spiritual practice of “study”:

The Pastor as Minor Poet: Texts and Subtexts in the Ministerial Life.

A few books about intellectual wellness:

A person I could talk to:

Teacher and blackboard

Many of our partnering seminaries offer continuing education courses, as well as degrees for more intensive degree programs. You may have a seminary close to you, or might look at distance learning at one of our ABC seminaries:

A Ministers Council resource available to me:

One of the Ministers Council’s priorities is competence in ministry, so there are several examples of MC Live sessions designed to help clergy grow in wisdom and knowledge. Here are a few examples:

MCLive Webinar: Courtney Pace shares about Dr. Prathia Hall, February 2023

MCLive Webinar: How to Heal Our Divides with Brian Allain, April 2023

Visit the Ministers Council Video Archive for more intellectual well-being video resources.

Other denominational resources to explore:

ABHMS offers a wide range of educational resources through their Center for Continuous Learning. Follow this link to learn more: CCLC Resources.

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