Church Worker Wellness

Resources

Concordia Plan Services (CPS)

CPS offers a variety of resources that promote physical, emotional, and financial wellness. We’ve highlighted a couple of those resources here, both of which can be found on the “Members” menu (Mental Health) on the CPS homepage.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Concordia Health Plan members, and members of their households, have a new mental health resource: the Evernorth Confide Behavioral Health Navigator. This navigator is designed to help members and dependents cope with stress, depression, marital difficulties, work-life balance, financial issues, childcare needs, and more. All EAP services are free and confidential. Visit https://www.concordiaplans.org/mental-health for more information or call 866-726-5267.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) also offers a pre-filtered list of Lutheran counselors to help you receive the mental health support you require from someone who also shares in your faith. Click on this Lutheran Counselors link to view the list CPS has compiled. 

The Pastoral Support Network (PSN)

The wellbeing of ministers is critical to the wellbeing of the body of Christ. If you’re a pastor and you or someone in your family needs support, check out the Pastoral Support Network (PSN) through Evernorth Confide. To access this resource, use the Employer ID: PASTOR or call 888-712-1805.

Devotional Resource

Building Up the Body: Worker-to-Worker
Weekly Devotions for Church Workers

Launched in April 2019, these devotions, written by pastors, teachers, and others engaged in church work, focus on our life in Christ while also emphasizing one of the seven areas of wellbeing identified in the Wholeness Wheel. You can find the devotions online on the LCMS Reporter site or by clicking the link above.

Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) and Other Support Agencies

If you’re experiencing a crisis in ministry or could use an opportunity to recharge and refocus, let us know. One of the organizations below might be able to help.

Doxology
The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel

Doxology offers an innovative program of advanced study retreats to strengthen pastors for the task of faithfully shepherding the souls entrusted to their care. The Classic program curriculum provides resources and strategies needed for joyful service in ministry while also providing spiritual care and encouragement to pastors.

Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat
Standing Stones Conference and Retreat Center, Wickenburg, AZ

Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat provides week-long counseling retreats for pastors, spouses, and ministry leaders in crisis, whether that involves conflict, burnout, depression or some other stressor.

Grace Place Wellness Ministries

Grace Place Wellness, headquartered in St. Louis, MO, is a preventive wellness ministry that works with church workers, their spouses, and the congregations they serve through retreats, workshops, and presentations that encourage worker wellness in all aspects of life.

GracePoint Institute for Relational Health

GracePoint, located in Nebraska, provides Christian counseling and relational enrichment that promotes mental, spiritual, emotional and relational health and well-being.

Kansas District Resources

Counseling Support

Looking for a professional Christian counselor here in Kansas, either for yourself or someone in your care? We’ve developed a directory, organized by region, based on recommendations from members of the District. 

Kansas District Retreat Center

The Retreat Center in Herington, Kansas, located in central Kansas near Lake Herington, is available to Kansas District church workers and congregation members. If you’re looking for a quiet place to rest and recharge or need a site for a small group meeting or family reunion, check out the Retreat Center.

Kansas District Sabbatical Guidelines

In 2002, the Kansas District Board of Directors adopted Res. 02A-02-03: Sabbatical Guidelines and Resources for Congregations of the Kansas District. The resolution, guided by the premise that healthy workers build healthy congregations and schools, encourages planned sabbatical leaves for professional workers.

Kansas District Pastors’ Wives Retreat

The District regularly offers Pastors’ Wives Retreats, which provide an opportunity for pastors’ wives in the Kansas District to network, relax, learn something new, and grow in God’s Word. Details about the next Pastors’ Wives Retreat will be posted as they become available.

Results from the 2016 Church Worker Core Needs Survey

In 2016, the Kansas District conducted a series of regional events for active church workers and their spouses in local parishes. A survey was conducted at each event; 300 of the 400 ordained and commissioned workers in Kansas participated.

The survey data highlighted three primary areas in need of attention:

• Worker Care – There is a need to implement strategies to strengthen congregational care for church workers and their households.
• Financial resources – There is a need to bolster congregational resources to address personal church worker household finances. 
• Spiritual health – There is a need to offer strategies to local congregations in their ongoing support of the spiritual wellbeing of their church workers and households.

The Church Worker Care Committee of the District is working to address knowledge, attitude, and skill components of these priorities, taking into account the many ways in which church workers differ.