Brene Brown defines resilience as “…the ability to practice authenticity when we experience shame [or other emotions], to move through the experience without sacrificing our values, and to come out on the other side … with more courage, compassion, and connection than we had going into it” (Daring Greatly, p.76). The practice and experience of ministry, especially in these demanding times, can be overwhelming, confusing, and even painful. Cultivating resilience is a key spiritual practice for clergy.
To foster this trait, the NH Conference and PCS in Manchester offer Pastoral Leadership Development Groups (PLDGs). Meeting ten sessions per year, each group provides a setting to develop resilience personally and professionally in various ministry settings.
All PLDGs are led by skilled trained facilitators. You will see groups for active parish pastors, clergy newly called to ministry and/or the NH Conference, members-in-discernment, retired clergy, and minsters in specialized settings such as chaplaincy, pastoral psychotherapy, spiritual direction, etc. The NH Conference underwrites this program through the Grace Scott Fund, and each participant pays $250 annual tuition (no fee for retirees).
To join a PLDG starting this fall, contact the facilitator of a group that interests you. For general questions about the program, reach out to PLDG Administrator David Reynolds at (603) 533-8377 or [email protected].
Now is the time to join a group, as they fill up quickly. Come and nurture your resilience in a PLDG!
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