The importance of Clergy Self-Care and its profound implications on Ministerial Ethics
"Do no harm."- I have often pondered the significance of the oath that is taken as a doctor prepares to embark upon the sacred work of caring for others. As the central tenet within the field of medicine the Hippocratic oath functions as a constant reminder that the medical professional has a moral and ethical responsibility to protect and preserve the right, dignity, and humanity of those in need of care. This journey of thought will seek to examine ministerial ethics and self-care as an interconnected entity, from the position that the minister is a physician of sorts - a physician of the soul if you will, who bares the ecclesiastical responsibility …show more content…
Certainly, it appears as if the dilapidated structure of our ethical palaces are on the verge of collapse. Moreover, the ever-shifting opaque lines that delineate our mores have blurred the moral vision causing increased uncertainty when attempting to identify right and wrong. While the cooperate and political arenas have been saturated with human resource trainings, seminars, and legislative safeguards the religious institution unfortunately lags woefully behind as very few discussions arise on the ethical responsibility of the clergy. Richard Gula in his work Ethics in Pastoral Ministry posits,
"moral responsibilities in ministry are authorized not merely by the social conventions of being a professional person, nor merely by general rules of conduct which all reasonable people follow. Though these are legitimate ways to authorize morality, they are not sufficient. From a theological point of view, God authorizes and legitimates morality. As a result, responsibilities of professional ministry are not only to ourselves or to other persons. They are ultimately responsibilities to …show more content…
During the final plenary of the semester the term ‘wounded healer’, emerged as a point of discussion. The concept of the wounded healer affirms the humanity of the clergy. In fact, this recognition should lessen the stigma associated with a cry for help. Self-care as praxis must become an organic and expected reality of 21st century ministry.
We must silence the voices of guilt that criticize clergy when they seek appropriate self-care outlets and embrace the truth that the wounded healer at times finds him or herself in need of healing as
"Do no harm."- I have often pondered the significance of the oath that is taken as a doctor prepares to embark upon the sacred work of caring for others. As the central tenet within the field of medicine the Hippocratic oath functions as a constant reminder that the medical professional has a moral and ethical responsibility to protect and preserve the right, dignity, and humanity of those in need of care. This journey of thought will seek to examine ministerial ethics and self-care as an interconnected entity, from the position that the minister is a physician of sorts - a physician of the soul if you will, who bares the ecclesiastical responsibility …show more content…
Certainly, it appears as if the dilapidated structure of our ethical palaces are on the verge of collapse. Moreover, the ever-shifting opaque lines that delineate our mores have blurred the moral vision causing increased uncertainty when attempting to identify right and wrong. While the cooperate and political arenas have been saturated with human resource trainings, seminars, and legislative safeguards the religious institution unfortunately lags woefully behind as very few discussions arise on the ethical responsibility of the clergy. Richard Gula in his work Ethics in Pastoral Ministry posits,
"moral responsibilities in ministry are authorized not merely by the social conventions of being a professional person, nor merely by general rules of conduct which all reasonable people follow. Though these are legitimate ways to authorize morality, they are not sufficient. From a theological point of view, God authorizes and legitimates morality. As a result, responsibilities of professional ministry are not only to ourselves or to other persons. They are ultimately responsibilities to …show more content…
During the final plenary of the semester the term ‘wounded healer’, emerged as a point of discussion. The concept of the wounded healer affirms the humanity of the clergy. In fact, this recognition should lessen the stigma associated with a cry for help. Self-care as praxis must become an organic and expected reality of 21st century ministry.
We must silence the voices of guilt that criticize clergy when they seek appropriate self-care outlets and embrace the truth that the wounded healer at times finds him or herself in need of healing as