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A recent clergy gathering focused on the issues of Alcoholism and Addiction in the Church. Clergy, in particular, can have an important role to play in helping people get the help they need. Clergy are also at risk for substance abuse, and so the whole Church needs to be aware of these issues and on the lookout for anyone in our community who may be struggling. Below are some valuable resources. Please let me know if you have more to add to this list. Thank you!

Letter from our Bishops, including link to model Alcohol Policy:
https://www.episcopalct.org/news/bishops39-letter-on-health-and-wholeness/

Alcoholics Anonymous CT meeting finder:
http://www.ct-aa.org/find-a-meeting/

AA Resources
http://www.ct-aa.org/home/

Alcoholism and the Church
http://www.amazon.com/You-Think-Dont-Know-Congregations/dp/081922412X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1427730627&sr=1-1&keywords=chilton+knudsen

General Convention Resolution on Alcohol and Drug Abuse:
http://www.episcopalarchives.org/cgi-bin/acts/acts_resolution.pl?resolution=1985-a083

Staying Connected

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A few thoughts on staying connected . . .

Note on the image: I chose this image because it shows people (not just a graphic of connecting wires or puzzle pieces) and because it shows the virtual connection of a video conference. I think both kinds of connecting are important - incarnate and virtual - and both have their place. Often times the virtual method makes connections possible that would not otherwise be possible, and we also need to be sure that our connections are not only virtual.

Bishop Ian recently passed along this article on the value of bi-vocational clergy: http://thomrainer.com/2015/01/19/eight-reasons-fulltime-pastors-staff-go-bivocational/
While it makes a number of excellent points about the gifts bi-vocational clergy bring to the church, what I'd like to reflect on here is the broader theme of staying connected. Thom Rainer argues that one of the main gifts bi-vocational clergy bring are a connectedness to the outside world. It is so easy in life generally, and somehow in the church particularly, to become inwardly focused and insulated from the world. We can become so concerned about maintaining the status quo and responding to our own needs and desires that we can miss what is going on in the world around us. By necessity bi-vocational clergy are back and forth between church and world. They are bridges. Sounds a bit like a deacon. Perhaps we could refer to deacons as "the original bi-vocational clergy." :)

While I do think this is a gift of bi-vocational clergy, I also think it touches on a point that is relevant to all of us who work in the church (lay and ordained). It would behoove all of us to note the value of staying connected to the world. If the church exists as to serve God's mission in the world, then we always need to be communicating the needs of the world to the church and forming and supporting the members of the church to help meet those needs. So all of us need to stay connected to the world. Not to mention, it is also just good for one's sense of self and for self-care to be connected more broadly than the institution of the church. So, here are 5 tips for staying connected to the world. 

1. Read the Newspaper 
Okay, well maybe not the literal newspaper. Perhaps it is an app on your smartphone or a  or the start page in your browser. Maybe you get email alerts of breaking news from your local newspaper, or at least the biggest paper in your state. Maybe you scan the headlines on the BBC, The New York Times or CNN. Maybe you listen to NPR when driving in your car. However you access it, there is great value in keeping track of the news in your town and around the world. Our sermons are better, our relationships stronger because we are connected to our communities and the needs of the world. 

2. Shop Local 
Get to know the business in your local area. Whether you are in an urban setting with lots around you or a small rural setting with miles between you and "civilization," try to build relationships with those around you. You never know what opportunities for service or evangelism might arise because of a conversation you had with the proprietor of a local restaurant or the post office employee. 

3. Colleagues
A great way to remember that the church and the world are bigger than whatever little corner of it we might be serving, is to develop colleague relationships across the wider church. Whether this is through seminary classmates, people you meet at CREDO or another professional education event or even a local colleague group, there is much to be said for hearing what others are up to in their ministry. There is much support and great idea sharing that can happen in this groups, so be sure they are a part of your ministry!

4. Old Friends and some new 
While it is great to have those with whom you can "talk shop," it is also essential to stay connected to people who are not in the church. Be sure that you keep a few friends who knew you before you ever went to seminary or started working for the church. They are essential for keeping us humble. Particularly for us clergy, if we are not careful the power of our office can easily go to our heads. We also need people who help us remember that there is more to who we are than our job titles. We need people with whom we do not have any professional obligations. People with whom we can laugh, cry and be ourselves. If you don't have old friends nearby or that you can connect with regularly, it can definitely be worthwhile to work on making some new ones. 

5. Sabbath - Practices of Prayer and Refreshment
And of course there is another connection that needs to be maintained for us to flourish in our ministry - the connected to God. While it can be tempting to get lost in or become beholden to our "To Do" List, practices of prayer and refreshment are essential for keeping us well - in all senses. This should perhaps be number one, for without this connection, without a regular rhythm of prayer and relaxation built into our lives we run the risk of being overwhelmed by the needs of the world or become mired in the minutia of daily life in the church. May our spiritual disciplines and practices be the foundation from which we build the rest of our connections to each other and to the world.

More on Women's Ordination celebrations, ongoing crisis in the Holy Land and a few other items of note

More on 40th Anniversary of Women's Ordination to the Priesthood and other items of note from around The Episcopal Church and The Anglican Communion

The Lead: Jonathan Daniels

Speaking to the Soul: Ignatius of Loyola

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/07/31/deadline-nears-for-submitting-original-artwork-for-christmas-card/ 

Daily Episcopalian

Joint Nominating Committee presents final essay on presiding bishop

Comments

The Lead: Archbishop of Canterbury

Urgent calls for peace in the land of the Holy One

Philadelphia 11 reflections: Allison Cheek and Carter Heyward

The Lead: Writing Project on Clergy in Difficult Calls

Statement from Archbishop of Canterbury on Gaza

40 Years Ago Today the First Women Were Ordained in the Episcopal Church. So What? | cowtown theology

Speaking to the Soul: Journey

In-depth Philadelphia 11 reflections: Allison Cheek and Carter Heyward

Commentary: Children Fleeing Oppression, Death Should Be Welcomed By Christians | NWAonline

Episcopal Response to Child Migrant Crisis

The Lead: Border Crisis

Speaking to the Soul: Feeding Five Thousand

Survey on inclusion of people with developmental disability

El Salvador Anglicans lead church, society in LGBT full inclusion

Interactive timeline of the history of women’s ordination

Where are the Philadelphia 11 – and their ordaining bishops – now?

Philadelphia 11 ordinations marked with calls for continued justice work

40 Years Ago, Women! | Pierre Whalon

 

Reflections on Life and Ministry

The Dangers of Bi-Vocational Ministry - Beau Underwood | God's Politics Blog | Sojourners

 L. Gregory Jones and Nathan Jones: Deep trends affecting Christian institutions | Faith & Leadership

 

 

Inspiration

The 20 most popular talks of all time | Playlist | TED.com

Pastoral Care

PASTORAL CARE

Silk Ring Theory

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-0407-silk-ring-theory-20130407,0,2074046.story

How NOT To Help Someone Who Is Hurting (comic strips included!) | Rachel Marie Stone

http://rachelmariestone.com/2013/06/26/how-not-to-help-someone-who-is-hurting/

Meal Train | Meal Calendar for New Parents, Surgery, Illness, and More

http://www.mealtrain.com/

The Miscarriage Secret | Her.meneutics | Christianitytoday.com

http://www.christianitytoday.com/women/2013/october/miscarriage-secret.html?paging=off

Grief

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/22/booming/ducking-grief.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

15 Things I Wish I’d Known About Grief | Identity Renewed

http://identityrenewed.com/2013/11/21/15-things-i-wish-id-known-about-grief/

The Habits Of Supremely Happy People

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/16/happiness-habits-of-exuberant-human-beings_n_3909772.html

The Art of Presence

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/21/opinion/brooks-the-art-of-presence.html?_r=0

Showing Up

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/irreverin/2014/01/showing-up-3/

Invisible Grief? Theological Reflections on Miscarriage : The Other Journal

http://theotherjournal.com/2014/03/17/invisible-grief-theological-reflections-on-miscarriage/

NY Times - An Online Generation Redefines Mourning

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/23/fashion/an-online-generation-redefines-mourning.html

10 Ways to Show Love to Someone With Depression | The Darling Bakers

http://www.thedarlingbakers.com/love-someone-with-depression/

NY Times - Airport Chaplain Now Offering Earthly Aid

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/03/business/the-airport-chaplain-now-offering-earthly-aid.html?_r=0

Bringing Dignity to Suffering
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-j-hall/bringing-dignity-to-suffe_b_5018399.html
 

Spiritual Healing - Guideposts

 
 http://www.guideposts.org/inspiration/mysterious-ways/spiritual-healing#.UzRZf483sBk.facebook

Ministry

MINISTRY

Ten Things Pastors Wish They Knew Before They Became Pastors

http://thomrainer.com/2013/03/09/ten-things-pastors-wish-they-knew-before-they-became-pastors/#.UT_cokK9KK0

Future pastors may all need to be bivocational ministers | By Jason Byassee | Faith & Leadership

http://www.faithandleadership.com/node/3586?page=full

Eight Lessons Learned - The Young Clergy Women Project

http://youngclergywomen.org/eight-lessons-learned/

At the Intersections: Ministry & the Margin

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/carynriswold/2012/09/at-the-intersections-ministry-the-margin/#comments

Sarah Coakley: Ministry is not easier than theology | Faith & Leadership

http://www.faithandleadership.com/node/3247?page=full

Secrets Your Pastor Can’t Share in a Sermon

http://sayville.patch.com/articles/secrets-your-pastor-can-t-share-in-a-sermon

I am the vicar, I am. | Heretics Anonymous

http://hereticsanon.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/i-am-the-vicar-i-am/

Ministry Matters | Blog | Clergy Anger & the Urgency of a True Spiritual Life

http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/blog/entry/4253/clergy-anger-the-urgency-of-a-true-spiritual-life?utm_content=buffer78a64&utm_source=buffer&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Buffer

How Many Hours Must a Pastor Work to Satisfy the Congregation?

http://thomrainer.com/2013/07/24/how-many-hours-must-a-pastor-work-to-satisfy-the-congregation/

Parable of the Life Saving Station

https://www.facebook.com/groups/FiveMarksofMission/permalink/344923268978603/

Pastoral Paradox

http://www.episcopalcafe.com/daily/parish_life/a_pastoral_paradox_1.php

The most popular Century articles of 2013 | The Christian Century

http://www.christiancentury.org/category/keywords/most-popular-century-articles-2013

Ministry Matters | Articles | 10 Things that Kill Ministry

http://www.ministrymatters.com/all/article/entry/3436/10-things-that-kill-ministry

Eleven Things You Might Not Understand About Your Minister | unfinished

http://marklovefurniture.com/blog/2013/07/06/eleven-things-you-might-not-understand-about-your-minister/

I Am a Midwife to the Holy | On Being

http://www.onbeing.org/blog/i-am-a-midwife-to-the-holy/6158

These are the top 10 most satisfying jobs: surprised? | Open thread | Comment is free | theguardian.com

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/mar/21/top-10-most-satisfying-jobs?CMP=fb_gu

How to be disappointed in your pastor (Reasons 1-10) | Pastor Joe McKeever

http://joemckeever.com/wp/disappointed-pastor/

Rowan Williams on Priesthood today

http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/articles.php/2097/the-christian-priest-today-lecture-on-the-occasion-of-the-150th-anniversary-of-ripon-college-cuddesd

Advice to Priests | Held By His Pierced Hands Held By His Pierced Hands

http://www.piercedhands.com/advice-priests/

Eight of the Most Significant Struggles Pastors Face - ThomRainer.com 

  http://thomrainer.com/2014/03/01/eight-of-the-most-significant-struggles-pastors-face/

Being More Than Being Useful | On Being 

 http://www.onbeing.org/blog/being-more-than-being-useful/6198

 

Continuing Education Resources

CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES/RESOURCES

Virginia Theological Seminary ~ LifetimeTheological Education

http://www.vts.edu/lte

Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary: DMin

http://www.austinseminary.edu/page.cfm?p=1902

Bexley Seabury DMin in Congregational Development

http://www.bexleyseabury.edu/d-min-in-congregational-development/

Bexley Seabury Current & Upcoming Courses

http://bexleyseabury.edu/courses/current-upcoming/

Lombard Mennonite Peace Center

http://www.lmpeacecenter.org/

Painting Icons

http://www.prosoponschool.org/schedule.html

Leadership Institute

http://bexleyseabury.org/2014-bexley-seabury-leadership-institute-at-the-kellogg-school/

Language Classes: Learn English, Spanish, French and More with Berlitz

http://www.berlitz.us/westport/

Courses at Hartford Seminary

http://www.hartsem.edu/academics/courses/

Trinity Church Wall Street & Trinity Institute

http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/education/trinity-institute

YDS Videos | Yale Divinity School

http://divinity.yale.edu/videos

ChurchNext

https://www.churchnext.tv/

General Theological Seminary

https://www.gts.edu/take-a-course-today

Luther Seminary - Missional Leadership Cohort

http://www.luthersem.edu/lifelong_learning/missional_leadership_cohort.aspx?m=4656

Walking the Way

http://www.tens.org/2014-conference/