Clergy Care
The Diocese of Christ Our Hope believes that healthy clergy make healthy churches. With that view in mind, the diocese has several structures to offer care and help to rectors, assisting clergy, and deacons.
Bishop Alan seeks primarily to focus his time caring for the rectors of the diocese by:
- Guiding through the bi-annual touch point of the RDP
- Meetings during the annual episcopal visits
- Offering diocesan staff resources, especially for safeguarding and troubleshooting administrative growing pains
The Canons for Clergy Care meet with deanery care representatives quarterly and assist with other resources or help as needed. They also keep the bishop apprised of any stresses on clergy, such as health issues, death in the family, or other struggles.
Rector Development Program
- 2 Day In-Person meeting between Bishop and the Rector with his spouse if available. Includes meal and personal down time
- Personality Assessment and review with the Bishop
- Philosophy of Ministry assessment with Canon for Clergy Care
- Discussion with Bishop on 20 dimensions of personal health
- Spiritual Direction Resources
- Financial Coaching with Clergy Financial Wellness Initiative
Clergy Care Groups
The Rev. Geoff Chapman, retired priest in the Diocese of Pittsburgh crafted The Clergy Care Group process as a way to counter the two primary issues faced by all clergy: the immense pull of the demands of ministry towards isolation, coupled by the incremental loss of our “first love” and shallowness of faith that usually follows. By providing the means of “Friendship” (safe places in which to grow in trust, openness, and vulnerability), while prioritizing “Formation” (keeping the goal of growth into Christlikeness of life primary), these groups become indispensable for those who commit to them.
- Small group of 3-6 clergy from same or different diocese
- 90-minute meeting once a week
- Short study on growing into the Life of Jesus
- Prayer for each member
- 20-minute log-in once a month (extended time for one person to share)
Deanery Clergy Care
- The Canons for Clergy care oversee a network of local care through our deanery structure. Deanery clergy care representatives:
- Connect with all clergy on regular basis
- Provide resources for the clergy, eg spiritual directors, confessors, counselors, etc.
- Encourage the clergy to share needs
- Prays for clergy regularly
The Diocese maintains a clergy care fund (donated from our churches) where our clergy can apply for financial assistance in the following categories
- Medical Hardships/Health Care for the clergy person and/or immediate family members.
- Immediate Student Loan Payment Relief for theological graduate student debt.
- Current or upcoming Seminary Expenses.
- Personal Financial shortfalls needed for household expenses (mortgage, rent, utilities, and food) or debt burden (personal loans and/or unsecured loans).
- Bereavement for extended family (clergy and spouse parents and siblings) funeral expenses (travel, funeral charges).
- Sabbatical Support for the clergy person.
- Mental Health expenses.
- Legal expenses for a Title IV disciplinary investigation.
- Seeding the opening of a new ACNA 403(B) Retirement Plan.