This article is concerned with the role of liturgy and drama in the life of the Church and especially with regard to church growth. The assumption that traditional liturgy has only a tangential role in mission is questioned by comparing liturgy and drama and their role in evangelism. Christian worship from the fourth century began to be dramatised; this was a process reinforced by allegorical interpretations of the liturgy. That development and the para-liturgical dramas created from the tenth century onwards were in response to evangelistic needs. Mystery plays, the Holy Week liturgy and popular devotion in medieval Christianity in the West tended to focus on the passion of Christ. They were like tragedy in creating an encounter with death which could lead to catharsis and self-transcendence. Parts of the Holy Week liturgy are looked at in that light. The final section of the article deals with the way the liturgy offers an opportunity for corporate and personal renewal both in terms of inward pr...

Liturgy and drama: a context of catharsis and transcendence?

The stresses and crises associated with priestly ministry are well documented. A consequent dynamic among clergy and in the institutional church is acedia. The myriad of symptoms associated with this condition leads to varying degrees of erosion of priestly identity, as well as carelessness and ambivalence about ministry.This article briefly describes acedia and then argues that one way it can be defeated is by developing a practical theology of baptism. Two principal remedies of acedia, namely the directive to “stay in your cell” and the practice of a virtue that I call spiritual resilience, are also crucial to living baptismally. Focusing on this primary sacrament of ministry produces a spirituality which potentially helps clergy reconnect more maturely with their priestly identity by seeing the stresses of ministry as invitations to flourishing discipleship. More systemically, it offers a framework for evaluating the church’s mission.

Living Baptismally: Nurturing a Spirituality for Priestly Wellbeing

Resilience is a helpful construct when considering how to support clergy well-being. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about clergy resilience, specifically those resources that clergy perceived had supported their professional resilience. The study gave attention to aspects of preservice training and professional development that helped to foster clergy resilience and initiatives that clergy desired to further support their resilience. Clergy reported multiple resources that supported their resilience including supports for spiritual life, relational supports, personal aspects, and organizational practices. Spiritual dimensions of support for resilience were prominent for clergy, especially the centrality of calling to ministry, theological meaning-making, and relationship with God. Participants also revealed helpful aspects of preservice training and professional development. Aspects of preservice training included rigorous discernment and screening of their callings and the inclusion of required practices, such as spiritual direction or mentorship. Aspects of professional development included a variety of skill development opportunities, lifelong learning, conferences, and networking with peers. Participants reported their desire for initiatives that included more wellness opportunities and an increased organizational prioritization of clergy wellness.

Clergy Resilience: Accessing Supportive Resources to Balance the Impact of Role-Related Stress and Adversity

The Clergy Resilience Model is a theoretical framework with a systemic perspective that is useful to denominations, individual clerics, and therapists in supporting clergy resilience and well-being. This article describes the development of this framework specific to clergy. As there is limited literature on the nature of clergy resilience or the specific variables that enable clergy to positively adapt to the challenges and adversity they face, the Clergy Resilience Model provides a useful framework to begin to understand clergy resilience as a dynamic process. The Clergy Resilience Model highlights the balance between adversity clergy encounter and supportive resources they have access to, as well as the overarching influence of key spiritual factors on clergy resilience. The Clergy Resilience Model was developed as a tool that may help clergy resilience both on an individual and systemic level by creating awareness of critical factors.

The Clergy Resilience Model: A Tool for Supporting Clergy Well-being

The nature of resilience is much debated both across and within a range of academic disciplines, yet most people have an intuitive sense of what it means. This chapter considers the status of the concept more critically from both psychological and New Testament perspectives, before exploring its application to pastoral and clinical practice with people facing the challenge of life events, injury, and chronic health conditions.

Clinical applications of resilience

Justine Allain-Chapman, Resilient Pastors: The Role of Adversity in Healing and Growth:

Vision Upon VisionVision Upon Vision: Processes of change and renewal in Christian worship, GuiverGeorge (Canterbury Press2009), 258 pp, £21.99 pbk: Processes of change and renewal in Christian worship

Julie Gittoes

Papers

Justine Allain-Chapman, Resilient Pastors: The Role of Adversity in Healing and Growth:

Vision Upon VisionVision Upon Vision: Processes of change and renewal in Christian worship, GuiverGeorge (Canterbury Press2009), 258 pp, £21.99 pbk: Processes of change and renewal in Christian worship