Guide to Ministry Self-Care

Richard P. Olson retired as distinguished professor of pastoral theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in 2017. He served as minister for nearly forty years and is author of a number of books, including Ministry with Families in Flux (co-authored with Joe Leonard), selected by the Academy of Parish Clergy as one of the ten best books of 1990.Ruth Lofgren Rosell is associate professor of pastoral theology at Central Baptist Theological Seminary and associate pastor at Prairie Baptist Church. With more than twenty-five years of experience as an ordained minister, she specializes in pastoral counseling and is the 2013 winner of the American Baptist Pastoral Counselor Merit Award.Nathan S. Marsh is associate executive minister with the American Baptist Churches of the Central Region. Prior to this ministry, he served as pastor at First Baptist Church in Minneapolis, Kansas and Antioch Baptist Church in Ada, Kansas. He is particularly interested in reducing pastoral attrition and supporting pastoral leaders, especially in the early ministry years. Angela Barker Jackson is co-pastor of Gage Park Baptist Church and project director at Central Baptist Theological Seminary, where she focuses on addressing economic challenges facing future ministers. She is an ordained minister in the American Baptist tradition with experience in the areas of youth, poverty, and pastoral ministries, as well as theological education.

• PrefacePart I: The Need for Self-CareMinistering during a Rummage Sale after a Perfect StormSelf-Care in a Variety of MinistriesBurnout and Compassion FatigueStressPart II: Strategies of Self-CareA Starting Place: ResilienceSpiritual Self-CareRelational Self-CarePhysical Self-CareSelf-Care through Inner WisdomSelf-Care through Laughter and PlayFinancial Self-CareIntellectual Self-CareBasic Steps to Self-CareA Theology of Self-CareNotesBibliographyAbout the Authors

A Guide to Ministry Self-Care provides clergy with a thoughtful, well-researched, comprehensive, and practical design for the kind of personal self-care without which fruitful ministry is impossible. Pastors at all stages of their ministries will find a multitude of ways to enhance their lives and work.