Being Clergy can be stressful. Demands on our time and energy, and tending to the spiritual needs of others can all seem to pull at us and keep us busy. We know we need to be healthy and whole human-beings in order to be responsive spiritual leaders. However, even our best intentions can be easily get derailed and we can soon find ourselves showing signs of dis-comfort like extra weight, stress overload, or other behaviors that inhibit our full selves from being present. From time to time, we can also find our joy of pastoring or being clergy taken away dealing with all the stress of doing the job.
Choosing to work intentionally at being healthy physically, emotionally, and spiritually can be difficult to tackle on our own. Sometimes having someone to walk the journey with us and to encourage us can really help us make the changes or improvements we desire. The Clergy Well-Being Coaching Program is already beginning to help Clergy persons become more well. The program has officially launched, and we have an on-demand video introduction to this program that you can watch at your convenience by clicking here.
You can also get a coach today or just inquire by calling the Clergy Well-being Coach Coordinator, Rev. Kurt Krieger at 816-210-5443 anytime. The program is completely confidential and no specific information is shared with the Office of Formation and Leadership Development so that clergy can be confident in sharing their personal goal(s) for well-being with their coach. We have 6 trained and resourced Peer Well-being Coaches ready to be supportive to you or someone you know that can use a coach.
You may find the following documents to be helpful for more information about what you can expect in the Clergy Well-Being Coaching Program:
Sample Clergy Peer Coaching Contract Ethical Standards for Clergy Coaches
Meet Our Clergy Well-Being Coaches
Rev. Alycia Erickson is the Senior Pastor of Pikes Peak MCC in Colorado Springs, Colorado. She was ordained as MCC clergy in 2010. She served as the Pastor of Faith Formation at MCC Austin from 2008 until 2015. She has a passion for helping people re-discover their connection with God.
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Rev. Elizabeth Goudy has served as pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of the Lehigh Valley in Allentown, PA since 1999. Goudy enjoys movies and hiking and is married (legally & religiously) to Carol Stevens, RN, FCN.
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Rev. Kurt Krieger, M. Div. is the Clergy Well-Being Coaching Program Coordinator. He also serves as the LGBT OlderAdult TaskForce Coordinator in Kansas City Missouri. Kurt served at Spirit of Hope in Kansas City, Missouri for 14 years as staff and 28 years in volunteer leadership positions.
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Rev. Terri Miller is the Founding Pastor of Valley Ministries MCC church in Stockton, California which was started in April 1999. She not only works with and encourages the LGBTQIA community, but has also been instrumental in working with the interfaith community in educating and bringing awareness about the LGBTQIA community in the areas of equal rights, bullying, and marriage equality. Rev. Terri has helped educate, mentor and share resources in the community around social justice, spirituality, and faith by bringing awareness, hope and inspiration.
Rev. S. David Wynn, father to sons Seth and Jackson, and to his snarky cat, Layla, is having the time of his life being the Lead Pastor for the eclectic MCC spiritual community named Agape’, “Love”. David has served for 19 years in Metropolitan Community Churches following many paths: AIDS Chaplain, Director of Youth & Family Ministries, Spiritual Director, Program Manager for the denomination, Associate Pastor, Supervising Pastor, and Senior Pastor in parts of Texas and Florida. David has a Masters of Theological Studies degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and is a Shamanic Practitioner and Reiki Master.