If you are reading this, we know you care about your church.
And assuming that you are living in today’s world, we know you are experiencing a variety of pressures, alongside the grace of God. Our Keeping the Faith conversation guide is designed to help congregants and their pastors work together in the midst of today’s challenges so that both congregations and clergy can be healthy.
How do clergy and congregational leaders come together in healthy conversation about tough topics during tense times?
In our Keeping the Faith guide, we provide a framework for five of these tough topics centered on pastoral well-being and community health—as well as an additional conversation on creating a covenant together. We don’t believe these are the only topics that pastors and churches should consider together. But we hope that through these particular conversations, individuals and groups will develop the skills needed to move toward, rather than away from, healthy conflict.
At the heart of this resource is the belief that:
- Nothing can be changed unless it is faced. (Thanks, James Baldwin.)
- Trust, which is necessary for creativity and growth, is established through vulnerability.
- Good questions set change in motion.
- A group covenant is essential for moving towards hard topics. In fact, the covenant is so essential to the work that we tell people not to do the five topical conversations without it!
Each chapter follows a similar format: First, some data about pastoral well-being. Second, two sets of reflection questions, one for the laity and one for the pastor. (Both parties have to engage in deep self-reflection). And third, a possible action step. We believe acceptance between pastors and congregational leaders is not just a posture but a practice, and one that's particularly important to flex in this increasingly polarized world.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God — Romans 15:7 (NIV)
Dive Deeper into Keeping the Faith
Conversation #2: The Importance of Human Connection for Pastoral Well-Being
We all need to feel loved and cared for, especially by people we are around often. In this conversation, you'll reflect on questions like: Does the pastor feel loved and cared for? How can churches tend to the person at the center of this difficult work?
Conversation #3: The Impact of Congregational Culture and Morale on Pastoral Well-Being
There is a significant body of evidence that suggests that our personal well-being is linked to the well-being of those around us. In this conversation, you'll reflect on questions like: What kind of workplace (or social network) is our church?
Conversation #4: The Impact of Perceived Differences in Worldview on Pastoral Well-Being
There are benefits to congregations and to clergy where everyone has to stretch to listen across perceived differences of opinion. In this conversation, you'll reflect on questions like: How do Christians accept one another across difference?
Conversation #5: The Importance of a Sense of Agency for Pastoral Well-Being
A sense of agency can substantially help one’s mental health. In this conversation, you'll reflect on questions like: What are the church’s expectations of the pastor? Where might the pastor have some control to shape these expectations and where don't they?
Conversation #6: The Importance of a Healthy Spiritual Life for Pastoral Well-Being
Spiritual well-being consists of having a relationship with God that includes a vibrant sense of purpose and meaning. In this conversation, you'll reflect on questions like: How do we help pastors be spiritually well?