Research report
Flourishing in Ministry: Clergy, Ministry Life and Wellbeing
Research insights from the Flourishing in Ministry Project — Matt Bloom, PhD, University of Notre Dame.
Download the ReportWhat is inside
An introduction to the science of wellbeing and the research foundation behind Flourishing in Ministry. It asks a different question than most studies of clergy health: not how to reduce suffering, but what it takes for ministry to be a life-enriching experience.
- Four building blocks. Flourishing happens when happiness, resilience, self-integrity, and thriving are present together.
- Daily experience accumulates. Good days and hard days stack up over time. For caregivers, the hard ones can pile up unnoticed.
- Resilience rests on self-regulation. Self-awareness, self-reflectivity, and self-control are what allow a leader to adapt to the unpredictable demands of ministry.
- Meaning and relationships carry the most weight. A clear sense of what matters is among the strongest predictors of health, and isolation carries a health cost the researchers compare to chronic smoking.
Read the full report
Free to download, and free to share with your team, board, or judicatory.
Download the ReportNot Just a Newsletter
The Weekly Well
A place to pause, breathe, and draw water for the week ahead — real research, practical tools, and honest encouragement to help you sustain ministry for the long haul.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
