Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative
The Duke Clergy & Religion Collaborative
The Duke Clergy & Religion Research Collective (CRRC) is a special partnership between the Clergy Health Initiative (CHI) and the Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL) at Duke University. We translate research into resources that positively impact clergy and seminarian’s “ecosystems of well-being” within Duke Divinity School, the North Carolina United Methodist Church, and beyond.
Serving those who want to serve well.
Clergy Health Initiative
Ministry is a complex profession – full of purpose and meaning. However, the challenges of ministry, combined with the need to prioritize their sacred calling, can prevent pastors from tending to their own well-being. We believe congregations and communities flourish when pastors have the permission and tools to foster their physical, emotional, and spiritual health. To that end, we identify, test, and promote evidence-based practices to support the well-being of clergy.
Religion & Social Change Lab
The United States is undergoing profound religious change. We believe churches, seminaries, denominations, and allied organizations that understand the impacts of these cultural shifts will be better able to adapt and thrive in the future. To that end, we use the tools of social science to deepen understanding, spark conversations, and develop resources on the training and formation of faith leaders and communities who contribute to the common good.
Our Signature Studies
Seminary to Early Ministry Study
The Seminary to Early Ministry Study is the most comprehensive longitudinal dataset on theological education to date, enabling us to better understand who attends seminaries, how seminaries form students, and how the training of future religious leaders can be improved.
Clergy Health Initiative Longitudinal Survey
Since 2008, nearly 3,000 United Methodist clergy in North Carolina have participated in the Clergy Health Initiative Longitudinal Survey, sharing about their mental, spiritual, and physical well-being. Now, we're turning this research into resources that can help pastors flourish.
Reflections in Ministry Study
COVID-19 created unprecedented challenges for religious congregations and those who led them. The Reflections in Ministry Study followed the career trajectory of 50 pastors during this unsettled time and captured the adaptations, innovations, and social supports they employed to thrive.