Reports & Briefs

Amid clergy burnout and civil unrest, a group of seventeen Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) clergy were asked questions regarding their call stories, ordination experiences, and careers in the North Carolina United Methodist Church.

This report highlights top-level findings from the 2023 Statewide Clergy Health Survey. While many health measures remained stable, two key areas were identified for improvement: sleep and vigorous exercise.

This report uses the Clergy Health Initiative's data on North Carolina United Methodist Church clergy from 2008 to 2023 to probe changes in physical health over time, including rates of chronic disease and obesity prevalence.

This report uses the Clergy Health Initiative's data on North Carolina United Methodist clergy from 2008 to 2023 to probe changes in mental health over time, including depressive, anxiety, and burnout symptoms.

In this report, readers will find trends on three dimensions of spiritual wellbeing for United Methodist Church (UMC) clergy in North Carolina: spiritual wellbeing in daily life, spiritual wellbeing in ministry, and satisfaction with one’s ministry.

The relationship between support ties among clergy and their well-being is more complex than it appears. This report highlights key findings on social support ties and outlines future research questions.

As a tangible thank you to our research participants, we created an impact report that details how we’ve been translating our research into resources that can serve clergy and seminarians.

With partisan conflict at an all-time high, this report suggests a timely opportunity for the denomination to embrace its “Big Tent” roots and seed communities where plurality without division can thrive.

A decade-long research journey uncovers racial disparities in salaries and working environments among Carolina UMC clergy. Inequalities are unintentionally perpetuated by denomination policies and appointment processes, sparking critical conversations.

Using data from the Statewide Clergy Health Survey, this report explores systematic salary differences between men and women elders in the North Carolina and Western North Carolina Annual Conferences of the United Methodist Church.

This report, based on 2020 and 2021 survey/interview data from 186 students in field education, uncovers the vital role of field education in discerning students' calling and the impact of relationships and direct ministry on shaping these experiences.