ATLANTA — A recent poll showing public confidence in clergy at a three-decade low should be a wakeup call for the importance of maintaining excellence in ministry.
“In a culture that qualifies success as bigger being better, it is easy to lose sight of the claim upon our lives that calls for fidelity to the excellence of God’s justice and mercy, grace and healing,” said Steve Graham, director of ministerial excellence for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.
A recent Gallup Poll found just 50 percent of Americans rate the ethics and honesty of clergy as “high” or “very high.” While still relatively robust when compared to other professions, trust in clergy declined by 6 percent in the last year and 17 percent since 1985.
The Atlanta-based CBF recently published a resource to help encourage healthy attitudes toward ministry and life-work balance by educating both the congregation and the minister.
“Well-Being and Excellence in Ministry: A Practical Guide for Ministers and Caring Congregations” equips ministers and congregations to work together to enhance their church’s quality of ministries.
Responding several years ago to address the need for ministers to find renewal and enrichment, the CBF launched the Initiative for Ministerial Excellence with funding from the Lilly Endowment.
The program includes peer-learning groups that meet monthly to build collegial relationships. A ministerial residency program allows graduating seminarians to work with teaching congregations to hone their ministry skills. The initiative also includes sabbatical resources to help veteran church leaders disconnect and recharge their passion for ministry.
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