Ministers are called upon to model many things in their congregations and communities, but none is more important than clergy modeling healthy, balanced, active and joyful lives. Ministry can be very demanding care-giving work, that requires its practitioners to pay regular and systematic attention to self-care. But recent studies reveal that clergy from a wide variety of faith traditions (including Unitarian Universalism) have rather poorly develop self-care practices, which lead to chronic illnesses, clergy burn-out, and shorter life spans.
This interactive workshop is designed to help clergy (at all stages of their lives and careers) to identify and adopt realistic physical, emotional and spiritual self-care practices which will enable and empower them to find balance and health in their lives. Topics to be explored in the workshop include: managing time, work, stress and professional expectations; creating balance between our personal and professional lives; taking regular care of mind, body and soul; and maintaining self-esteem and mental health for the long haul. Participants will work in small and large groups, and also have time for personal reflection.
Presenter Bio:
The Reverend Scott Alexander was called to be the Senior Minister of the River Road Unitarian Church in June of 1998. He is the editor or author of five books. He wrote The Relational Pulpit: Closing the Gap Between Pulpit and Pew, a book on preaching in the liberal tradition which is widely used in Unitarian Universalist seminaries and homiletics courses. He has edited four popular Unitarian Universalist volumes: The Welcoming Congregation: Resources for Affirming Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Persons; AIDS and Your Religious Community: A hands-on Guide to Local Programming; Salted With Fire: Unitarian Universalist Strategies for Sharing Faith and Growing Congregations; and Everyday Spiritual Practice: Simple Pathways for Enriching Your Life. Rev. Alexander is a widely sought after speaker, preacher and workshop leader in Unitarian Universalist circles, and is widely respected as a dynamic, inspiring and thoughtful leader in our movement. Rev. Alexander has been a social activist committed to increasing social justice - both in the local community and the nation as a whole. He has served a wide variety of human service organizations including national and local AIDS/HIV agencies, Planned Parenthood, agencies for the mentally retarded, the YMCA, and adoption agencies for hard-to-place children. He has also actively participated in various social justice initiatives of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Rev. Alexander is an avid bicyclist, commuting to church that way most days and averaging more than 200 miles on his bike a week, and who also enjoys cross-country skiing, swimming, and hiking.
Contact Information:
salexander@rruc.org
