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October '24 Newsletter: Hope Amidst Unsettled Times
Hello!
Welcome to the Serve Well newsletter, a new collaborative resource from the Duke Clergy Health Initiative and Duke Religion and Social Change Lab. Every month, we'll be sharing trends in ministry formation and flourishing so that however you serve—seminarian, clergy, researcher, educator, or administrator—you can serve well.
With a national election right around the corner and hurricane recovery efforts in the Southeast underway, this month our theme is focused on hope amidst unsettled times.
Trends in Ministry Formation
Over Half of Pastors Surveyed Say They're More Politically Liberal Than Their Congregation
Over half (59%) of North Carolina pastors who remained in the United Methodist Church through disaffiliation said that they were at least somewhat more politically liberal than their congregation. Read our report to learn more about the make-up of these churches, and consider how seminarians and clergy can prepare to build meaningful connections across lines of difference
Trends in Ministry Flourishing
Unsettled Times Reshape the Call of Ministry
COVID-19 fundamentally reshaped the way that clergy understood their role as pastors and envisioned the future of the Church. In this journal article, we show how unsettled times, like pandemics or natural disasters, often prompt religious leaders to reconsider the status quo, and, if necessary, develop new strategies for ministry. Read more about the challenges and silver linings of these periods, including how congregations may become sources of stability.
Your Serve Well Resource
Love Thy Neighbor With Loving Kindness
Loving Kindness Meditation is an effective tool for reducing stress and building compassion, even between people with different experiences and worldviews. Whether you're navigating a climate disaster or a divisive election, we created a timely resource for you, our ministry partners, in which we're sharing stories from clergy who are caring for themselves and others through this evidence-based mindfulness practice.
About Us
The Duke Clergy & Religion Research Collaborative (CRRC) is a partnership between the Duke Clergy Health Initiative (CHI) and Duke Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL). CHI focuses on providing pastors with tools to improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual health, while RaSCL focuses on helping current and future faith leaders adapt to evolving times. Together, we serve those who want to serve well. Our work is made possible thanks to the generous time of our research participants and generous funding from The Duke Endowment. To stay informed of our latest research in ministry formation and flourishing, sign up to get our monthly Serve Well newsletter directly in your inbox.