In the last blog, I shared a check list for a pastor to use for measuring how s/he cares about his or her physical health. The governing board of a church can look at how they support pastors in caring for their physical health. It makes sense that a healthy pastor will be a better pastor to the congregation.
EVALUATING THE CHURCH’S ROLE
So, take the list, have each member of your board fill it out separately and then discuss.
PHYSICAL
Three major areas that attend to a person’s physical health are those of exercise, diet, and sleep. In addition, an area that can be addressed in both the category of physical health and emotional health is that of how a person responds to stress.
From the list below, identify at least one area where your congregation is already supporting clergy and staff and one where they could do a better job.
We encourage our pastor(s) and staff to:
1. Have a dedicated time to do physical exercise.
2. Belong to a Y or sports club where they have exercise equipment and trainers.
3. Participate in a sport or some other communal activity that engages in physical activity.
4. Get annual physical exams.
5. Avoid skipping or rushing meals because of professional demands
6. Not answer the phone during family dinners but use the voice mail.
7. Be aware of healthy foods and a good diet.
8. Monitor one’s weight.
9. Have good sleep habits.
10. Allow for enough time for sleep.
11. Be aware of ways to interrupt stress when it has increased to a high level.
12. Recognize and make allowances for situations that trigger negative emotional responses.
When everyone has completed the sheet, begin to discuss as a body what your congregation is currently doing and an area where you think they could do better.
Subscribe to the blog and join the conversation. When we have healthy clergy, they contribute to healthy congregations.
