Health & Well-being

Sleeping is an essential leadership practice

A pastor reflects on the story of Jesus calming the storm. But the takeaway lesson might not be what you think it is.

By Andy Stanton-Henry Co-director, Quaker Leadership Center at Earlham School of Religion

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Autumn is all about letting go

Fall is the season of limits that reminds us of our mortality. That’s a good thing, writes a pastor and author.

By Courtney Ellis Pastor, Presbyterian Church of the Master

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How pastors can respond to vaccine hesitancy

A retired pediatrician and priest offers perspective on the rising incidence of vaccine hesitancy and how church leaders can serve the common good by supporting science-based public health.

By Vincent Joseph Kopp Retired pediatrician and priest

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Lessons from my mother’s hospital bedside

A writer considers what it means to walk beside a loved one near the end of life.

By Shannon Hopkins Co-founder & lead cultivator, RootedGood

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What happens when the pastor’s family isn’t perfect?

For ministers who carry private family pain, shame can be overwhelming. But our difficult lives might make us better clergy, writes a pastor and mother of a child with emotional and behavioral challenges.

By Shaina Ciaccio Minister and associate professor, University of Valley Forge

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When summer doesn’t feel like a season of ease

We typically anticipate relaxation and a slower pace in the summer, but that is hard to imagine this year. So it is even more important to prioritize rest and play, writes a psychologist who specializes in faith and mental health.

By Jessica Young Brown Licensed clinical psychologist

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‘Christ in the Abyss: Cultivating Deep Faith amid Depression and Despair’

A writer who lives with bipolar disorder shares her story and amplifies voices of hope for those who struggle with inner pain or doubt.

By Jean L. Neely Writer and educator

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‘Traumatized Church: What Paul’s Relationship with the Corinthian Church Teaches Us About Helping Those Who are Hurting’

In their new book, scholar Scot McKnight and therapist Adrienne Gibson argue that the apostle Paul was a deeply wounded man and that reading his letters can help us understand the effects of trauma.

Scot McKnight Adrienne Gibson

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Rebecca Brune: How do you create a church culture that supports people with mental health challenges?

Many people who struggle with mental wellness turn to their pastors for help, but often those clergy aren’t equipped to support them. The Congregational Collective aims to bridge that gap by helping congregations and clergy help others.

Moral fatigue and the quiet exhaustion of doing the right thing

We are called to remain true to the common good despite opposition and adversity. That feels particularly hard now, but the Bible offers reassurance.

By Khristi Lauren Adams Author

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Building resilient neighborhoods

A faith-based community development program in Pittsburgh works to heal the traumas of local residents and create sustainable change. Meanwhile, it’s coping with federal funding cuts amid growing demand for its services.