Flourish in your ministry

Sources of Support

The pressures on those who minister are well known. It can be hard to regulate working hours and to know whether you’re ‘at work’ or not. The pressures are often felt by ministers’ partners, children and wider family and friendship networks and can be unseen by others.

This page is designed to direct you to the various sources of support that exist to help you flourish in your ministry.

The Diocese of Liverpool actively encourages all licensed ministers to care for their wellbeing and has signed up to the Charter for Employers Who Are Positive About Mental Health and so aims to provide non-judgemental and proactive support to individual staff who experience mental health issues.

It has long been recognised that there is no one single way to deal with the pressures of ministry, but it is important to develop a pattern of prayer, work and rest which works best for you. However, there are some simple steps that can help

Look after your physical health. Regular exercise can boost your self-esteem and can help you concentrate, sleep, and look and feel better. Exercise keeps the brain and your other vital organs healthy and is also a significant benefit of improving your mental health. Eat well, a balanced diet is needed by your brain in order to stay healthy and function well, just like the other organs in your body. A diet that’s good for your physical health is also good for your mental health.

Take your days off and holidays. We know that clergy regularly don’t stop working on their days off. It is often the case that you plan a day off and then end up working anyway when there is a knock at the door “I know it’s your day off but…” Be disciplined with yourself. Block time off in your diary and take it. Make yourself accountable to someone – a friend or family member that will remind you to switch your brain off from ministry matters, especially when you are on holiday.

Find things to do that you love outside of ministry. Get a hobby. Even a couple of hours a week thinking about something else will be beneficial and reduce stress.

Develop a good network of friends. And they don’t all have to be clergy! There is evidence to suggest that a wider social network has a positive impact on your mental wellbeing.

Ask for help and support if you need it. You are often the person that other people turn to for help and it is easy to end up carrying everyone else’s burdens. Who is there to support you? Know that help is out there if you need it. Check out the resources in the table below and also the funding opportunities page in this section, especially the Clergy Support Trust. Whatever the issue that you are struggling with you can contact your Area Dean, Archdeacon or Lifelong Learning. We can point you in the right direction to access the support you need.

Here are some sources of support we have organised scroll down to see them in helpful themes

Physical and mental flourishing

Financial and material flourishing

Thriving in personal relationships

When things don't go well