Groups

published on Thursday, December 9, 2010 by kjm20@duke.edu


A few hurdles down, many more to go as we move toward helping clergy prioritize health.

Throughout November, our events team crisscrossed the state and somehow managed to host 34 baseline health screenings in less than 3 weeks.  The November 2010 screenings mark the only time during Spirited Life that we will need to screen all 1,100+ participants at once, making the challenge much more complex. We are incredibly thankful for the grace everyone showed during the first few screenings as we worked out the kinks in our system and learned how to administer this type of event on an enormous scale.

Flickr- horizontal.integration (1), Darwin Bell (2), Sean Rogers (3)This week, we reached another major milestone as Spirited Life participants learned to which of three groups they have been randomly assigned as part of our wellness program and health study.  These groupings determine many things, but most importantly, they indicate when clergy will begin to receive wellness services – for most, the highlight of our program.  This challenge, like so many we’ve faced in recent months, was a new experience for our research team.  While it was imperative that we make assignments randomly, we’ve succeeded in placing clergy couples in the same groups so that they can experience the program together, regardless of which group they were assigned.

From here on out, the trajectory of each of the groups will vary.  At some point from January to March, the first wave of participants – which we’ve oh-so-creatively termed Group 1 – will attend a three-day retreat in stress reduction and spiritual renewal.  The event is a kick-off of sorts to the programming we’ll be introducing to Group 1 over the coming two years and that we’ll highlight here and in other venues as we move through the program. 

Groups 2 and 3 will receive the same program beginning in January 2012 and 2013, respectively, though we may improve upon it based on what we learn.  In the meantime these clergy will participate in health screenings and surveys, providing data that will serve as a comparison to that coming out of Group 1.

Though the timeline for Spirited Life services is (necessarily) staggered, we hope that you will see it as an opportunity to to take part in other wellness programs and activities that pique your interest and share creative tips with us and each other over the coming year.  Doing so doesn’t impact our research, and it can have an amazingly positive impact on you. 

Stay tuned for more developments!

Kate

Kate Rugani
Communications
Clergy Health Initiative

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Advent and Christmas Resources

published on Wednesday, December 8, 2010 by jbjames@duke.edu

Sisters and brothers,

Just a quick drive-by to point out some Advent resources that may be of interest or use to you.

The Divinity School has assembled this collection of meditations for Advent.

I stumbled on two sister websites, The Advent Conspiracy and Rethinking Christmas, that may spark your imagination as you prepare for and celebrate the coming of the Christ child.  These online communities were launched by a group of pastors who want to collect and share ways to give more while spending less. 

Who else got snow last weekend?  We only had an inch or so in the Triangle, but my daughters were beside themselves nonetheless.  The watchful waiting has definitely begun at our household.

Talk more soon.

Shalom y'all,

John

John James, M.A.
Research Analyst
Clergy Health Initiative

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Depression: A Vocational Hazard for Pastors

published on Tuesday, November 30, 2010 by jbjames@duke.edu

Tom Rhodes is pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Raleigh.  Early in 2010 Rhodes began to feel overwhelmed by his duties and barely able to function.  With his wife's urging, Rhodes visited the doctor and received a diagnosis of clinical depression.

The linked story discusses the phenomenon of depression among clergy.  Rhodes points to three factors that contributed to the onset of his depression: (1) an increased workload, due to the departure of an assistant pastor and other factors; (2) the physical effects of aging and a decrease in his level of activity; and (3) a family history of depression. 

Of course, Rhodes is fortunate to receive such strong support from his members.  With the understanding and support of his congregation, he took the summer months as a leave of absence.  He has negotiated a 3/4 time work schedule, and the lay leadership has created a support structure to help him manage his workload and share certain tasks.  Rhodes has preached on the subject of depression and has gotten a grateful response from worshippers who have suffered from mental health problems in secrecy and isolation. 

Advent is upon us, a meaningful time of the Christian year but a busy and demanding time for pastors.  The approach of winter and shortened daylight hours can have a dampening effect on our moods as well.  Perhaps this is a good time to remind our clergy to be on the lookout for signs of stress or depression. 

Tom Rhodes likens his bout with depression to a heart attack: a "wake-up call" warning him to take corrective action.  For depression as well as for heart disease, treatment methods have improved dramatically in recent years.  If we are aware of the warning signs, there is a good chance we can get life-saving, or vocation-saving, help.

As Tom Rhodes reminds us, "True communities are built on shared vulnerabilities."

(The story first appeared in the Raleigh News & Observer on November 11.)

Shalom y’all,
John

John James, M.A.
Research Analyst
Clergy Health Initiative

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