about

Clergy Wellness

As United Methodists of Upper New York (UNY), we hold a deep commitment to the well-being of our clergy. Our journey towards fostering holistic wellness within our clergy community has been an integral initiative since early 2020. This commitment led to the development of our Clergy Wellness Team, a dedicated group determined to integrate a vision of well-rounded clergy across all our ministries.

Our Vision: Holistic Wellness

Being holistically well means nurturing not only the spiritual health of our clergy but also their emotional, physical, social, and financial well-being. We acknowledge that clergy members play a pivotal role in our faith communities, and their well-being is fundamental to the vitality of our church.

Our Clergy Wellness Team has undertaken extensive research, including the Conference-wide Sabbath Survey in 2021. This research shed light on the current reality of clergy within UNY and has driven the launch of numerous initiatives aimed at enhancing clergy wellness and fostering a culture of Sabbath within UNY.

Five Dimensions of Wellness

The Clergy Wellness Team recognizes that wellness encompasses five vital dimensions that significantly impact our clergy and their overall well-being. These dimensions are:

1. Spiritual Wellness- Nurturing the clergy's spiritual journey.
2. Financial Wellness- Offering guidance and support in financial matters.
3. Emotional Wellness- Providing resources for emotional health and resilience.
4. Social Wellness- Fostering healthy social connections and community.
5. Physical Wellness- Promoting physical health and well-being.

Clergy Wellness Team

Our dedicated team members are working diligently to establish concrete goals in each of these wellness dimensions. These goals will help us achieve our overarching objective of holistic wellness for all our clergy members.

Our Clergy Wellness Team members include:

• Rev. Drew Sperry, Chair
• Rev. Aaron Bouwens, Cabinet Liaison
• Rev. Susan Ranous
• Pastor Donna Martin
• Marthalyn Sweet
• Jessica White
• Rev. Jongdeok Park
• Rev. Nancy Dibelius
• Anna Buell
• Pastor Rebekah Solar

We are committed to fostering a community of holistically well clergy, ensuring that our clergy members have the support and resources they need to thrive in their vital roles.

Join Us on This Journey

We invite you to join us on this journey towards nurturing holistic wellness within our clergy community. Together, we can build a stronger, more vibrant faith community that thrives on the well-being of its spiritual leaders.