The importance of flourishing in ministry

The Archdeacon of Worcester, Robert Jones has taken on the role of lead for ministerial wellbeing in our diocese. He writes: 

At the latest meeting of our Diocesan Synod in November, those present wholeheartedly affirmed the diocesan Flourishing in Ministry booklet, which contains practical advice and support for all engaged in ministry.

Looking at the booklet was part of a debate about the importance of clergy wellbeing and at the end, this was the motion passed:

This Synod:

1. asks each PCC to consider how it can best support clergy wellbeing locally  and review this periodically;           
2. commits to promote the welfare of our parochial clergy and their households and commends the ‘Flourishing in Ministry’ handbook to all who engage in ministry.

In our diocesan life at the moment, you’ll often be hearing the words ‘healthy and sustainable churches’. As we navigate the challenges of the pandemic and seek to be a faithful Christian presence in every community, we are seeking to encourage church communities to be healthy and sustainable – in other words, alive and kicking now and for the foreseeable future!

The same is true for our clergy and ministers; we want them to be healthy and sustained in their pattern of ministry. As St Irenaeus said, ‘The glory of God is a human being fully alive’. I pray for a humble church which is healing and sustaining for itself, its community and the world around, and for its ministers to feel cared for and be fully alive. 

This is a shared task, and one on which I have been asked to take the lead. Now more than ever we need to care for each other and for ourselves. I hope to be able to draw together a group of people who can ensure that the wellbeing of all in ministry continues to be a focus for us across the Diocese. Much of this will involve listening – please tell me how you think our ministers are feeling at the moment.

By focussing on this important area of work, we may together respond to Jesus’ own words, who, when asked which commandment is the greatest, replied, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’

May our diocese model a healing and sustaining Church with love for God, our neighbour and ourselves in which all may flourish.

Robert Jones, Archdeacon of Worcester