A fun read over the last couple of years has been the book The Meeting, part of the retro Ladybird series that I loved as a child. It jokes about how people spend a lot of time in meetings, which is important because they can talk about work. Which, of course, is much easier than actually doing it.
Another in the spoof series is The Team Building Weekend and I would love to see one produced on the Church Weekend Away or even the Ministerial Retreat. How many comic moments could readers of Preach contribute?
More seriously, I’ve always enjoyed leading ministerial retreats. They are rare opportunities for clergy to decompress and find some space. Just as long as they don’t spend the whole time clearing a backlog of emails and preparing their next sermon.
Talking to leaders during these times away, I’m struck by how many are totally exhausted. Some tell me that, after many years of ministry, it is like every spiritual fluid has been drained from their body. They just want to sleep. (And they quickly reassure me that it is not just because of my teaching.)
It is widely known how shattered many in ministry have become today. The pages of Preach magazine have covered the issue well. National leaders have called for better pastoral oversight of the clergy. And ministerial training colleges are increasingly looking to teach about self-care and building a sustainable work-life balance.
From my engagement with such efforts, I know they are warmly welcomed. But I’m still not convinced that the message is getting through.
