| Each Pastor Parish Relations Committee (PPRC) of a United Methodist Church is charged to encourage, strengthen, nurture, support, and respect the clergy. Often the PPRC is ill-prepared to provide the full range of this stated duty, especially in sharing the full range of emotions associated with parish ministry.;This project focused on building relationships and developing skills within the PPRC at a suburban United Methodist Church with a newly appointed pastor that will provide a holding space for the clergy. Through participation in a retreat, and specific guided meditation/sharing exercises at the subsequent PPRC meetings, the clergy will be able to share, and the PPRC will be able to hear, the full range of feelings concerning ministry in a supportive and safe environment. As the PPRC are able to provide the holding space, they will be better able to provide the encouragement and support needed to care for their clergy.;The project consisted of a full-day retreat at an off-site retreat location. The focus of the retreat was education, team-building and listening exercises, and specific guided meditation/sharing skills.;D. W. Winnicott's theory of a holding environment guided the project. It is in a holding environment that one is able to be known and accepted. According to Martin Buber, God is constantly addressing us and calling us. John Wesley would call this prevenient grace. When we step outside of our inner thoughts and share ourselves with God, we meet in the space between humanity and God. It is in this space that creativity, relationship, and healing take place.;Through participation in this project, the PPRC at Cornerstone United Methodist Church improved their ability to listen and understand the clergy and then provide personal insights and relevant information in response. The clergy were supported by the ability of the PPRC to encourage the clergy in their work. This retreat provided tools for the PPRC to be able to listen to, and for clergy to be able speak, a full range of emotions in their future meetings. |
