8 Year Assessment Offers Opportunity for Clergy Care & Renewal

The Eight-Year Clergy Assessment program is underway in North Georgia, offering clergy an opportunity to focus on their well-being and renewal this year.

During the Clergy Session of Annual Conference 2023, the Center for Clergy Excellence extended Invitations to participate to pastors serving in years 8, 16, 24, 32, or 40 of ministry. Deacons, elders, and licensed local pastors who have completed all coursework were eligible. 

Those clergy were invited to a one-day renewal retreat at Columbia Drive UMC and were encouraged to thoughtfully and prayerfully reflect upon their ministerial service in The United Methodist Church. How has it changed in the last eight years? What has brought you joy? What has caused stress/conflict? What do you need to leave behind? What changes do you need to make in order to be renewed and ready for your next eight years of ministerial service?

Each eligible clergyperson was given the opportunity to propose a personal plan for renewal spiritually, mentally, physically, and/or professionally in the coming year. The Center for Clergy Excellence offered assessment tools to help clergy make the most of this opportunity and funds were allocated in the Clergy Excellence budget to go toward their proposals. 

The proposals clergy have submitted are inspiring, uplifting, and creative.

Physical Wellbeing
Clergy who plan to focus on physical well-being, will use funds for opportunities such as a gym membership, scheduled sessions with a personal trainer, fitness classes, and one committed to a fitness boot camp. In one request, the clergyperson identified a personal trainer who specializes in helping people in the "middle years of life" with strength and flexibility.

Spiritual Renewal
A meaningful variety of spiritual renewal opportunities were proposed. Some clergy will attend silent retreats or sabbath retreats, sessions with a spiritual director, and several signed up to participate in the ACE2 "Seek God Everywhere" small group, which focuses on Ignatian spirituality.

Mental Health
Mental health and well-being was another important focus for some of the clergy. Proposals included sessions with a counselor, grief therapy, and participating in the ACE Wander & Wonder clergy hiking group offered by the Center for Clergy Excellence and Camp & Retreat Ministries. 

"I know that time spent in nature brings peace and nourishment to my soul, but creating the space for it is challenging," wrote one pastor. "I will be planning monthly time for renewal in nature."

Another pastor will purchase an Annual State Park Pass that allows for entrance to all the State Parks in Georgia and 1 free night of camping.

"I plan to visit a State Park for a day, at least every other month, for the year and plan at least one overnight stay," wrote the pastor. 

Professional Growth
Clergy will use renewal funds for professional growth as well. Their proposals include taking part in online studies, attending a ministry conference, or working on writing or publishing projects. 

Personal Focus
Some have a more personal focus such as a genealogy study, meeting with a financial planner, or scheduling sessions with a life coach. 

One pastor framed their proposal this way:

"I have decided to use the Scripture 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength' Mark 12:30 as my guiding light for renewal this year." Their proposal lifted up four opportunities, one for heart, one for soul, one for mind, and one for strength.

All proposals have been approved. 

In 2016, General Conference established the Eight-Year Assessment for United Methodist clergy. It is described in paragraph 349 of the “Book of Discipline.” Each Annual Conference establishes the process by which this requirement will be fulfilled. 

The North Georgia Conference has designed and implemented our process with the Center for Clergy Excellence and the Board of Ordained Ministry in consultation with the Chairs of the Orders of Deacons and Elders and Fellowship of Local Pastors.