Clergy resilience

 I have seen it suggested that perhaps the greatest need for an effective long term clerical ministry is resilience. 

I think there's a great deal of truth in that. 

The life of a minister has its compensations and demands. There are very often pressures, internal, external and spiritual. In a week there might be a couple of funerals (perhaps one especially tricky or emotional), meetings about buildings and finances, which are always a problem, an out of hours call to a bedside, some wedding prep and more. The Vicar is in a public role and people will voice criticism or helpful suggestions. Many will have a vision for what you ought to do. But there may be a lack of time, or money, or support. And the diocese and national church probably have an initiative with which they would like you to engage. Have you done your fees and your statistical return? Where are you on the carbon net zero journey? But you'll also have to drop everything for a safeguarding concern. The school would like you to pop in when you have a moment. And....

There can be resilience good and bad. 

The Vicar is a professional with boundaries. 

But she is also a pastor who loves her people and is called to share not only the gospel but her life with them. She is to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. She is a human not a machine.  

So we do not want clergy who are jaded, indifferent, impossible to reach. The Teflon Cleric is not ideal. 

So what are the sources of resilience?

Humanly, some space and rhythm in the week. A cuppa. A dog walk. A piece of music. A day off. Holidays. The support of family and friends. 

Spiritually, prayer. A secret inner life in which grace is received. A heart of thankfulness that offers up life to God with praise. God accepts what we bring and gives it back to us transformed. God loves to heal sick sinners. He delights to use the weak. His power is sufficient. He must pause and think and breath and pray. Some silence may help. Remember God! Remember the gospel! Remember your vocation! You are not an administrator or a fundraiser or.... but a pastor-teacher steward of the mysteries of God, a herald of good news, a watchman for the coming Kingdom.

Nothing can ultimately harm me. Not because I am insensitive and don't care. But because my life is hidden with God in Christ in the heavenly places. 

First I am a child and heir of God by grace. I am held in covenant love. 

My ministry and what I do and all I must absorb or face to day is secondary. 

Let us so look and cling to things eternal that we can pass through temporary trials if not unscarred but still heading for heaven with a measure of hope and joy even amidst the ARRGGGHHH!s and the tears. 

May God be kind to us and help us. 

And may we give ourselves and others a break!

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I forget what it says now but I'm sure The Revd Dr Kirsten Birkett will have useful and interesting things to say here: Resilience: A Spiritual Project: 84 (Latimer Studies) - 2016 - https://www.latimertrust.org/product-page/resilience-a-spiritual-project