Clergy Wellbeing: Soul

 

Prayer, spiritual wellbeing, generosity and being present

It has been scientifically proven that paying more attention to the present moment can improve your mental wellbeing. This includes your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. As Christians we know this as prayerful awareness. It not only combats stress, it deepens our relationship with God.

Our spiritual life is the framework which our ministry flows from, but we can be so busy feeding others we dull our own hunger. Health in ministry is underpinned by a healthy prayer life.

For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from God.

~ Psalm 62:5

Make active choices to ensure you are flourishing in this soul space

Something to read

The contemplative Minister, Ian Cowley
‘Today, many are looking for a different way of being in ministry, a better way of serving Christ than the relentless busyness and pressure that have become the norm. But how?’
This book is like taking a deep breath of fresh air, a cool glass of water for the thirsty

Living Generously: a whole life response to God’s love, Fiona Penny, Darren Philip, Katherine Southern, Pauline Wilson

Or explore your Spiritual Temperament

Something to listen to

Contemplative sit, Brian McLaren

Story: Attending to soul

I have found the spiritual discipline of reading most helpful for my soul. We all need the refreshment of a different way of thinking, a new perspective, some encouragement from a saint from the past.
Christian biographies remind us that the Gospel is lived out in real flesh and blood individuals who lived in real contexts. We are never alone in running the race of faith and Hebrews 12 is a great reminder that we are indeed surrounded by ‘a great cloud of witnesses’. Reading a good biography is always an encouragement and challenge.

~ Experienced vicar

Red Flags

Be honest with yourself, are you reading scripture outside of preparing sermons?
Are you praying outside of services?

Spiritual Direction

Space to attend to your relationship with God
This is part of the Ministry support framework. Read more →
 
What Spiritual Direction is, and what it is not

Spiritual Direction, sometimes referred to as Spiritual Accompaniment, is someone to travel with you, often over a longer time, as you grow in your relationship with God. Spiritual Direction is not about being directive, but a work of great humility in the services of transparency to the Holy Spirit.

Spiritual Direction looks to deepen your prayer life, offer a safe space of profound listening that enables you to articulate your thoughts and feelings around your life of faith. The Spiritual Director will first and foremost seek to listen to the Holy Spirit, and encourage the directee to do so as well, honing their practice of discernment.  It will be based on a clear agreement, without judgement, and the Spiritual Director will be clear when the issues raised require a different kind of support [e.g. coaching or counselling].

Spiritual Direction is not having someone who will fix things or offer advice. It is not unboundaried access to the person, and the relationship should never become mutually dependent.

Meetings

  • The first meeting is a maximum of 1.5 hours allowing half an hour to discuss the process, the way you want to work, and looking through the agreement, and the intervals between sessions
  • Further sessions of 1 hour maximum with an annual review

Practicalities

  • To request a Spiritual Director, make direct contact with the Gloucestershire Spiritual Direction Trust
  • Those receiving Direction would ordinarily travel to the Spiritual Director. However, if that is not possible, travel expenses are available for Spiritual Directors
  • It may be agreed between the parties that online meetings are more appropriate
  • The Spiritual Directors will commit to seeing their own Spiritual Directors, having regular supervision and appropriate training and insurance

 

 

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