Pastoring a church can be fulfilling work — and it also can be demanding. Faith leaders often feel a divine call to accompany individuals on their spiritual and personal journeys. At the same time, workload, conflict and criticism can erode a pastor’s wellbeing.
The USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture is pleased to be partnering with the Rosemead School of Psychology’s Mental Health and the Church Initiative to provide coaching to 100 pastors through the Flourishing in Ministry program.
“God’s original design and intent in creation was for everyone, including ministry leaders, to holistically flourish in relationship with God, other people and in our work,” said Rev. Chris Adams, Ph.D., a pastor and psychologist, as well as executive director of the initiative at Rosemead. “Flourishing in our vocation is central to our identity in Christ, and no one lives out their lives and work as a calling more than ministry leaders.”
Senior Pastors: Click here to express interest in the coaching program.
The Program
While the stresses of pastoring can lead to physical illness, burnout, anxiety and even depression, research shows that preventative and even proactive steps can lead to greater personal and ministry flourishing.
Through the project, pastors will receive group and individual coaching from a certified Flourishing in Ministry coach over the course of 10 weeks, with a time commitment of 90 minutes each week. Flourishing in Ministry coaches will facilitate a process of self-discovery, oriented to the present and future.
It is not professional counseling, and coaches will not provide explicit psychological advice.
“Flourishing in Ministry works with you as a fellow traveler,” says Bishop Kenneth Ulmer, pastor emeritus of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood, CA. “Not walking backward with you into the past, seeking hurts and brokenness to be healed; not above you as an expert in a given field, helping you become a mini version of them; not even walking ahead of you, leading into some prophetic revelation or image. They will walk with you encouraging, assisting and enabling you to release all that God has ordained and called you to.”
Senior Pastors: Click here to express interest in the coaching program.
A Model of Wellbeing
Through more than 10 years of scientific research with 20,000 pastors, the Mental Health and the Church Initiative has produced a new model of what flourishing in ministry looks like. Daily wellbeing, resilience, thriving, authenticity and a healthy relational ecosystem are five key dimensions for flourishing in ministry.
Within each dimension, practices that are grounded in Christian spiritual disciplines boost pastors’ wellbeing. Small steps done frequently and consistently, and in community, make a huge difference over time. Positive wellbeing accumulates.
The Bigger Picture
Through decades of research on faith organizations working to address social issues, the USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture has seen how stress, burnout and isolation can prevent leaders from effectively creating change within their organizations and communities. This partnership will allow us to not only support faith leaders in their work, but also better understand the effects of such support. We will track the impact of the coaching program to see how it affects the pastors’ lives and work, as well as their congregations.
Senior Pastors: Click here to express interest in the coaching program.
Funding for the Flourishing in Ministry program comes from the John Templeton Foundation.
