Ministry Wellbeing and Development
Ministry Wellbeing and Development
Clergy wellbeing is not a peripheral issue, but essential to the mission and ministry of the Church.
As a Diocese, we are firmly committed to exploring how we can continue to enable and resource opportunities which support clergy wellbeing.
Clergy wellbeing is both a personal and an ecclesial responsibility.
Personal Responsibility
On an individual / personal level, each clergy person is responsible for incorporating those practices and opportunities into their lives that would support and enhance their wellbeing. These include physical, emotional, spiritual, relational and vocational habits and practices.
They will differ from person to person, but are likely to include:
- Prioritising physical health (diet, exercise and sleep)
- Adequate rest periods (taking one’s day off, taking leave)
- Fostering, nurturing and prioritising primary relationships outside of the ministry context
- Cultivating reasonable work-life balancing
- Engaging in spiritual direction and professional supervision, and attending an annual retreat
- Attending to professional development
- Seeking and engaging professional mental health support when needed
Ecclesial Responsibility
As a church, we are responsible for ensuring that adequate opportunity is provided for each clergy person to meaningfully attend to their wellbeing.
As a Diocese, we do this in these ways:
- Provision of a generous leave policy
- Encouragement by Diocesan leaders for clergy to take their day off
- Financially contributing to Professional Supervision fees
- Sponsoring Professional Development opportunities
- Facilitating and funding access to EAP
- Offering subsidised opportunities for spiritual retreat
Further to this are the Ministry Wellbeing and Development policies.
These are all intended to support and resource clergy in their ministry.
Diocesan Ministry Wellbeing and Development Coordinator
The Ven Gill Rookyard
mwd@perth.anglican.org