The Duke Clergy Health Initiative is a program to assess and improve the health and well-being of United Methodist clergy in North Carolina.

Through wellness interventions and behavioral health studies, and other programs and resources, the Clergy Health Initiative underscores the theological reasons for caring for oneself and offers strategies to help pastors develop holistic health practices.

Follow us on Facebook.

Two NC pastors enjoy a CHI event

What We're Learning

Research and Publications

The Clergy Health Initiative has been collecting data in many forms—including a longitudinal survey, focus groups, interviews, and biometric data—from United Methodist clergy in North Carolina since 2008. We are currently researching the practices of pastors whose mental and physical health is flourishing to identify strategies that can be applied by other clergy.

Selah Stories

Terry Williams practices the Daily Examen

Building on the effectivesness of Spirited Life TM, but now paying specific attention to stress, anxiety, and positive mental health, the Duke Clergy Health Initiative will launch Spirited Life: Selah in January 2020.

Learn more
about Selah Stories

Latest News

Clergy members light a candle
Duke Research Finds Long-Range Wellness Plan Can Help Clergy

Clergy are notoriously bad at taking care of their own health, even as they administer to the needs of others.
program participant on treadmill
Clergy Intervention Program Reduces Health Risk Factors

The program, part of the Clergy Health Initiative, has led to improvements in health markers that have lasted over 24 months.
Two pastors sitting on a porch talk and laugh
Report on Flourishing in Ministry

A report from the Clergy Health Initiative presents practical tips from clergy who have succeeded in cultivating positive mental health.

The Duke Clergy Health Initiative

Learn how and why the Clergy Health Initiative was developed by The Duke Endowment and Duke Divinity School.