Features
“It has been absolutely clear in the COVID-19 environment that self-care is vital for all those in ministry, as for all in the caring professions. This learning is an important one for clergy and lay ministers to take into the Advent season,” says The Rev’d Dr Daniel Rouhead from Resource Church St Bart’s, Toowoomba
Reflections
“In the distant past when I was at theological college, I remember being told that most clergy are introverts – one of God’s little jokes. This means that our feelings can be buried deep and difficult for us to articulate, let alone understand or untangle,” says The Rev’d Canon Dr Marian Free
When Bishop Cam Venables had a skin cancer removed from his cheek in late July and subsequently shared about his experience online, the unexpected flow-on effects for other local Anglicans were significant – hear what Bishop Cam and others in our community have to say
“It is my practice now to see a psychologist six times each year, in between visits to my Spiritual Director. I also look out for the signs that I’m not coping – withdrawing or striving to be creative out of an empty bucket – and attend to them before they become a problem,” says The Rev’d Canon Sarah Plowman
“As a teenager, I didn’t tell anyone I was seeing a psychiatrist – I was far too embarrassed. Now, of course, I know just how healthy and normal it is to seek help and I would encourage anyone who is struggling to search out someone with professional expertise to give you the assistance you need,” says Bishop Jeremy Greaves
“In an unsettled environment, there is much pressure on the ordained person to be the leader that provides continuity, stability and certainty. When clergy talk among ourselves, we often describe this style of an ordained leader as the ‘Hero Priest’…Can I suggest that it is in the tension between a desire for certainty and the reality that no such assurance is possible that our wellbeing problem lies?” says The Rev’d Michael Stalley in a new anglican focus series on ‘creating communities of care’
“There are both predictable and unexpected times when clergy will feel more depressed, anxious or stressed. A virus like COVID-19 and 2020’s associated stresses are completely new and unexpected, so the recent NCLS snapshot figures are not surprising,” say counsellor Marilyn Redlich and PMC Executive Director Stephen Harrison, who offer practical suggestions for addressing stress, anxiety and depression
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