天美视频 of Theology & Psychology has released its second research report to come from Resilient Leaders Project (RLP)鈥攁 report that describes what flourishing leadership and contextually-responsive ministry look like through a series of alumni profiles, all peer-identified as 鈥渆xemplars in resilience.鈥�
鈥淚n the , we looked at the big picture of what Christian leaders need to move beyond surviving the challenges of ministry into growing and experiencing grace in the midst of those challenges. For our second study, we wanted to pay attention to the stories of people who we鈥檇 seen flourish in ministry,鈥� said , Researcher for Resilient Leaders Project and primary curator of the Flourishing in Service research report.
鈥淥ur questions were big,鈥� said , Director of Resilient Leaders Project. 鈥淗ow do Christian leaders serve in post-Christendom contexts? How do leaders sustain themselves? But those questions couldn鈥檛 be answered by a big view alone. We wanted to know how leaders navigate relationships and service in this context. So we decided to talk to a few.鈥�
What is ministry today? And, because we care deeply about the wellbeing ministry leaders, we鈥檙e asking: What does it take to flourish in service?
The report began to take shape as Andrea and Kate asked their peers at 天美视频 to identify those who exemplified service in ministry, especially those who were doing so in interesting and unique ways. Upon selecting and interviewing a group of individuals, the Resilient Leaders Project team coded and noted the themes that resonated both within and across interviews, thus forming the foundation of the report鈥檚 conclusions. In addition to the conclusions, we are also sharing the profiles of these leaders, as the specifics of their stories inspire a broader imagination for ministry possibilities.
鈥淭his focus on the stories of individuals is important because so much of the work we do in Resilient Leaders Project is helping leaders look at their own stories to build self-awareness, self-compassion. We find that looking at your own story actually helps you see and participate in the bigger picture of the work of the Spirit in the world,鈥� noted Andrea.
In sharing this report, desires to help the Christian community by identifying the themes that will equip others to pursue their own resilience and by articulating patterns about what effective ministry looks like now in a post-Christendom United States.
鈥淭he distinction between Christianity and Christendom was really important for us,鈥� said Kate. 鈥淲e鈥檙e based in Seattle, which has often been cited as one of the 鈥榤ost post-Christian鈥� cities in the United States 鈥� but our experience doesn鈥檛 match that. […] We see lots of flourishing ministry here; it’s just rooted in a different understanding of the relationship between the church and culture. In many ways, the stripping away of the dominance of Christianity has allowed truer forms of faith to emerge. So, what does it mean to serve in a post-Christendom context? What does it mean to love your post-Christendom neighbor? What is the shape of Christian community in post-Christendom contexts? These leaders give us some early glimpses and offer their experiences to help expand leaders鈥� imaginations for how to move into post-Christendom relationships with faith, hope, and love 鈥� and authenticity.鈥�
You can read the Flourishing in Service research report here.