Reflections & Research
Discover what we are learning about what helps pastors thrive
August 8, 2019
Lilly Endowment Inc. 2018 Annual Report
When the Rev. Joe Tito crisscrossed the border between McAllen, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico, he saw firsthand the drama that his immigrant parishioners had so often described to him. When the Rev. Joe Tito crisscrossed the border between McAllen, Texas, and Reynosa, Mexico, he saw firsthand the drama that his immigrant parishioners had so often […]
read moreabout Lilly Endowment Inc. 2018 Annual ReportMay 14, 2019
Safe spaces promote thriving among women of color ministry leaders
When women of color gather in cohorts, their experiences and stories are centered and affirmed, says the executive director of the RISE Together Mentorship Network. “God doesn’t call women to ministry.” Those are the words of my former pastor, who made that declaration 30 years ago during my early vocational discernment. But black women — […]
read moreabout Safe spaces promote thriving among women of color ministry leadersMay 14, 2019
The path to increased pastoral agency
Pastors operate in highly complex social systems, and even with formal authority may not feel empowered to lead change. The key to building their sense of agency is to build trust among stakeholders and cultivate habits of care. Pastors serving in congregations have much more freedom in their daily work routines than teachers in classrooms or […]
read moreabout The path to increased pastoral agencyApril 16, 2019
The dangers of workism, especially for pastors
Our culture prizes meaningful work, and a lot of it. What does that mean for pastors whose desks are actually altars? Workism is the new religious tradition in town. Workism proclaims that we must “do what we love and love what we do.” “In the past century, the American conception of work has shifted from […]
read moreabout The dangers of workism, especially for pastors