I greet you in the name of Christ, our Savior…who was, and is, and is to come!

Recently I had lunch with two clergy colleagues who are both currently on sabbatical. It was great to catch up with them, learn how they are spending their sabbath time, and to listen as they each expressed what they are discovering about themselves as people and as people of faith.

When exiting a season of high anxiety and stress, pressing pause to claim time for recuperation isn’t just a good idea, it’s essential. True, intentional Sabbath rest can be life-giving, thought-provoking, and soul-healing…a time for recovery and discovery.

Many faith communities are in recovery mode. Like the aftermath of an intense storm, some churches are working to rebound as they reorganize following losses in membership, attendance, and finances. Other congregations are thriving, having put the debates behind them and reclaiming their unity in Christ. In places where I have recently preached or been a part of leadership meetings, I am encountering clergy and congregations who are discovering fresh ways to live into the Call of Christ. It is inspiring to see and hear!

Many clergy are also in a state of recovery. When you are the one who serves as mediator, interpreter, and peacekeeper, especially during lengthy, nerve-racking stretches, a clergy person can feel like the rope in a tug-of-war…gripped, pulled, and stretched beyond capacity. When the conflict is over, it is critical that they take some time to rest, recover, and be given a momentary release from their responsibilities. It helps them reconnect with themselves, and to have space to explore and discover fresh ways they can continue to live into the Call of Christ.

Last week our Bishop, David Graves held a gathering in Jackson, TN for TWKC clergy. We experienced inspiring worship, heartwarming fellowship, a very good meal, and an afternoon of speakers and sharing by Bishop Graves focused on understanding and maintaining good mental health. We considered the moments recorded in Scripture when Jesus deliberately sought a peaceful and safe, solitary space and took an intentional break from having to be all-things to all people. Bishop Graves shared how he has experienced seasons of struggle within his mental health journey. He encouraged, if not mandated that clergy take their provided annual, paid vacation time, and if necessary (with proper planning and approval) occasional, additional sabbatical time, without being ridiculed, penalized, or embarrassed when asking for it.

Recently, our Conference Committee on Finance and Administration dedicated $250,000 for the purpose of supporting clergy mental health needs in the TWKC. I thought about how our Development Fund provided grants in 2024 for qualifying capital improvements to church buildings and property as a gesture of support in challenging times. As we have in the past, our ministry could also consider ways to uphold and strengthen clergy in the same spirit as we have supported maintaining physical facilities and land.

As a church, as clergy, or as laity, we are all in recovery from something. Church is often a place that for whatever reason we don’t always choose to share how much we struggle. But when those seasons of life occur, we need to be able to offer one another the space and the grace that Jesus claimed for himself. That’s the human part of His being that I can relate to. May we commit to one another, and ourselves, a willingness to share the grace God demonstrates in how Jesus took care of others…and himself.

Rev. Dr. David Weatherly


President/CEO