Spiritual Well‑Being
…refers to care of the soul, practice of prayer and other spiritual/contemplative disciplines (including Sabbath), and attending to one’s relationship with God.
“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:
Seventeenth-Century monastic Brother Lawrence suggested that we “practice the presence of God.” By this, he recommended that whatever we are doing—washing dishes, travelling to work, cooking our meals—can be an opportunity for prayer. We don’t have to stop doing these tasks to pray, but instead we make them a silent and habitual conversation with God. Try this practice right now, alongside of whatever task that needs to be done in your life.
Spiritual practices for spiritual wellness:
- Write a letter to God about your spiritual wellness. Share any burdens that you feel you need to let God help you with, any fears or anxieties in your mind, and joys or gratitude that you want to thank God for.
- Worship. This is harder than it sounds for many clergy, as we are often the ones leading others’ worship. But we need opportunities for worship, as well. So, whether it is by finding a worship service to attend in another church, or by setting up a holy “altar” at your home or elsewhere, or by finding another “thin place” in nature or in your neighborhood, find a place and time to truly worship.
- Try memorizing a passage of Scripture, repeating the words throughout your day.
A few books about spiritual wellness:
- Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. San Francisco, HarperOne, 2018. Available on Amazon.
- Rachel Held Evans, and Jeff Chu. Wholehearted Faith. New York City, HarperCollins, 2021. Available on Amazon.
- Johnson, Chris L. The Leadership Pause: Sharpen Your Attention, Deepen Your Presence, and Navigate the Future. Austin, Texas, Greenleaf Book Group, 2022. Available on Amazon.
- One of several books in The Practices of Faith Series edited by Dorothy Bass. Available on Amazon.
A person I could talk to:
Many ministers have found value in working with a spiritual director, who can help clergy think about how their personal journey of faith connects to their vocation, family, and personal well-being. Click here to learn more about Spiritual Directors and how to find one: Center for Action and Contemplation
A Ministers Council resource available to me:
As well, one tool in the clergy toolbox is a ministry sabbatical. Regular, intentional time away from our ministry can be incredibly helpful to clergy, their families, and their ministry contexts. Find out more about sabbatical resources here:
Resources | Sabbaticals Planning
MCLive Webinar: Planning Sabbaticals, June 2024
Chapter Retreats
Many chapters offer regular spiritual retreats for ministers, which can be a place to practice the Ministers Council value of centeredness. Talk to your local chapter about whether or not they offer clergy retreats, and watch for the national Biennial Retreat that is usually offered in the Fall.
Other denominational resources to explore:
American Baptists have the website Spiritual Direction and Formation, designed to help folks discern a call to spiritual direction, as well as for those seeking to explore and deepen their practice.
ABHMS offers the following course through their Center for Continuous Learning: Discipleship Summit on Demand
