Resources for Clergy & Seminarians

A comprehensive resource for clergy and faith leaders that defines Christian flourishing, guides clergy to assess their current well-being, distills four identified behaviors of flourishing into actionable steps, and creates room for reflection.

Evidence-based practices designed to increase your resilience, protect against burnout, and free up energy to do God's work with a renewed sense of creativity and insight.

This report examines mental health care among UMC clergy, shines a light on the current gaps, and offers encouragement for those who are looking to get professional mental health counseling.

This Stress Management study (Selah) identified three stress reduction practices that allow pastors to fully live into the work that God is calling them to do with creativity, insight, and energy – even during the most stressful times.

Loving Kindness Meditation is an effective tool for building compassion during times of stress. In this resource, we share stories from clergy who have used this meditation practice to care for their own health, while caring for others.

The Daily Examen is a method of prayerful reflection on the day's events to see where God has been present and discern God’s current direction for you. It is a simple but powerful prayer that can be practiced by anyone, including congregations.

Cyclic sighing is a breathing practice that can be done anytime and anywhere. There is no cost and zero side effects. What's more, this practice was found in a rigorous trial to reduce anxiety symptoms, lower heart rate, and improve positive mood.

Resilience writing is a 20-minute expressive writing exercise conducted over multiple days that can help clergy process the stressful emotions and thoughts of ministry. It has outcomes as good as therapy and is free and more convenient.

Seminarians who try to maintain health behaviors often report being unable to live up to their aspirations, especially in the face of barriers posted by their degree program. Our Action & Coping Planing Worksheet is designed to help.

Proactively reduce clergy stress by creating a set of referral sources to share with congregants in their time of need. This self-guided training includes videos, worksheets, and guides designed in collaboration with Partners in Health and Wholeness.