Spiritual Leadership and spiritual followership are both necessary for emotionally healthy churches. Members in our congregations face significant pressures that can produce anxiety and depression. This class will explore emotionally healthy spiritual leadership and spiritual followership. Our goals are to equip participants with practical strategies to support members under stress and develop congregational cultures that are safe, supportive, and spiritual. We will provide direction for leaders and followers to be emotionally healthy.

Most ministers have an innate desire to help the people they lead overcome issues, including depression and anxiety. However, being a “problem solver” is not the same as being a helpful listener. Class participants will discuss various mindsets affecting listening and learn the practicals of empathic listening and solution focused conversations. “To answer before listening - that is folly and shame.” Prov 18:13

Transformative growth involves deep, lasting change that impacts personal faith, relationships and church culture. Cultivating spiritual and emotional health in the church are essential to growing in Christ at a heart level. Oftentimes, attending church/religious events can bring up anxious thoughts and sadness in our churches. In this class, we will explore how to foster a faith community where all feel welcomed whereever they are on their spiritual journey. We will identify common barriers to transformative growth and discuss pathways for nurturing and healing the soul – yours and others’ from the inside out.