This is a space for clergy in need of support to do the work they are called to do. A place of rest and renewal, honesty and transparency. Subscribe to hear from our Founder, Rev. Kinsie M. Tate who is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Ordained Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and clergy spouse.
Can you lay down the ministry mantel?
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I like the visual of taking off the stole and laying down the burden that ministry can sometimes be. Clergy are tasked with many responsibilities and are often allowed into the most intimate moments of peoples lives (weddings, death bed, funerals, births). We see fear and joy, anger and sorrow, and are asked to hold so much. With all of that, it is important to remember that we too, need to lay down our burdens, share the load, and experience our own mountain top moments. The Restoration Fellowship provides a place for clergy to do just that. The picture above is from the closing retreat of the April 2025 Restoration Fellowship cohort. We met last week at Mary and Joseph Retreat Center in Palos Verde, CA. I love the closing retreat because we have all just spent a year together and during that time participants share their struggles, support each other, and grow together in beautiful ways. We come together at the end to fellowship and dig even deeper into who God is calling us to be and discover new strengths that propel us on in ministry. We also laugh a lot and rest in a variety of ways. It is truly a privilege for me to journey along with the clergy that say yes to this process, show up even when life is busy, and demonstrate great courage in addressing their unhelpful patterns that make ministry more difficult than it needs to be. Over the coming weeks I'll be sharing their testimonies so you can hear from them what they experienced. If you are curious about the process and want more information, reply to this email and it will come to me. We can set up a time to chat via zoom or I can answer your questions via email. Please don't let the cost of the program deter you from reaching out. We have partial scholarships available from generous donors that care about clergy health and wellness. If you feel a nudge from the Holy Spirit, lean in and ask for what you need. If the Restoration Fellowship isn't the right fit, we have other options available that might meet your needs in this season. There is no pressure to say yes, just a brief conversation about what you are experiencing in your life and how we might be able to help. Then next Restoration Fellowship starts March 25th with a zoom "meet and greet" and then we will all gather together in person at Bedford House in Tulsa, OK April 13-17 for the opening retreat. You can find out more about that program here. You can find out more about Leading From Abundance here and you can check out our upcoming 1 hour Wellness Insight continuing ed offerings here. The next Wellness Insight hour is happening in 2 weeks on February 25th from noon-1 pm PST. I will be sharing 2 powerful acronyms. One that helps you build insight and uncover unconscious motivators and another that increases mindfulness and is a simple way to uncover what you're feeling. Both can help you discern in moments of distress. If you are interested, you can sign uphere. With warmth and care, |
Restore Clergy
This is a space for clergy in need of support to do the work they are called to do. A place of rest and renewal, honesty and transparency. Subscribe to hear from our Founder, Rev. Kinsie M. Tate who is a Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor, Ordained Minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and clergy spouse.
The image of the suffering Christ and suffering for one's faith is foundational in many Christian traditions. I consider this concept often in my work: the idea of what is enough suffering to help us grow? I talk to the people I work with about finding their "growth edge" - the limit to push through so you can continue to grow in the ways you want, while also identifying when to stop, or pause for rest. That balance between suffering and relief is important, but it is also important to...
Do you have friends? Like the kind of friends that you can ugly cry in front of or whine about how hard life is and know that they won't judge you the way you judge yourself when that happens? Someone other than you spouse or family? Not that spouses and family aren't important, but sometimes they are biased because they need you to be okay so they can feel okay and that keeps you from feeling truly understood and supported. A friend isn't usually your primary life partner and doesn't rely on...
It's Holy Week and I know...it's a lot. I'm not even in the pulpit and it's a lot for me and our family. All the additional services, on top of the regular weekly duties....it's just...A LOT. These are the weeks when insidious patterns of mediocre self-care, or worse yet, lack there of, wreak havoc not only on the individual, but on those surrounding them. The pressure to perform and push and get it all done takes a lot of capacity and I bet many of you are already running out of that. I...