From Experience to Learning: Using Peer Groups and Theological Reflection As a Model for Providing Support to Ministers
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Author
Sowle, Carol
Date
2006
Degree
Master of Arts in Pastoral Theology
Abstract
Since beginning my own spiritual journey and preparation for ministry, I have
come to this insight: being a solitary traveler on my own spiritual path gets lonely after
awhile. There 1s a time for solitude, yes, but also a time to stop at the inns along the way
for company, rest, renewal, the sharing of stories, and the seeking of advice about the
road ahead. If we are just questing, then perhaps support groups are not so necessary.
But if we are serving in communities — however we define our community, be it the
church, where we work, where we volunteer, and so on — we must be grounded in
community. And we must be able to draw upon all the sources of sacred wisdom that
inform our ministry. Peer groups can address the need for community, including support
and nurture, and group theological reflection can address the need to be connected to our
sacred sources. My own church community does not currently provide any formal structure for
ongoing ministerial support, education, or accountability. However, shortly after I began
to think about how to address my own needs for ongoing support, the question of “who is
a minister in The Church Within and what is their role?” surfaced among the board of
directors, who formed a committee to address these issues of support, accountability and
continuing education for ministers. Ministerial support and supervision in its entirety
was obviously too large to be tackled by a pastoral project. However, organizing a group
of ministers into a peer group and using theological reflection as a framework for
attending to and sharing our various ministries would be a doable and appropriate pastoral project, with potential benefits not only to myself, but to my larger faith community. I proposed my project to be part of the response to the larger question posed
by the board’s committee. Thus, this project represents the intersection of two needs: my
own personal need to be part of an ongoing peer support group utilizing theological
reflection and the need of my faith community to find ways of engaging and supporting
its ministers.