The glory of God is a human fully alive. – Irenaeus
The second-century Church father, Irenaeus, would say a flourishing life is one that abides in God. Throughout the history of the Church, this is how Christians have talked about being well. When we are well, God is delighted, inspired, glorified.
We call this state of well-being flourishing and, for the purpose of our nerdy research, we define flourishing as those who report low levels of anxiety and depression, low levels of emotional exhaustion, high feelings of personal accomplishment, and high levels of positive mental health. Put another way, flourishing is a state of positive emotional, psychological, and social functioning—and is associated with a reduced risk for future mental and physical illness, too.
The good news? In our new Fully Alive guide, we identify four behaviors of flourishing clergy that are accessible and achievable for all. The guide gently walks you through the research, helps you assess where you're at on the path, shares the experiences of other clergy, and invites you to reflect on how you can "have life and have it abundantly" (John 10:10, ESV) in your ministry.
Flourishing is a way of life, really. And better understanding this way of life can help you spot it, cultivate it, and celebrate it—not only in your own lives but in the fully alive leaders you hope to form along the way.
As you define, assess, and practice what a flourishing ministry looks like for you, know that you’re not alone in the trying.
Fully Alive: A Resource to Guide Clergy Towards Four Behaviors of Flourishing
Fully Alive is a comprehensive resource for clergy and faith leaders that defines Christian flourishing, guides them to assess their current well-being, distills four identified behaviors of flourishing clergy into actionable steps, and creates room for reflection and renewal.