Ministering Well: Attending to your wellbeing - An online workshop series for those in pastoral ministry (MWP2025/01)

An invitation for you to pause and to take time to reflect on your ministry and the effects on your wellbeing. Join others in ministry on a journey of discovery on how to sustain and nurture your ministry and learn strategies to mitigates against it's many “demands”.

A series of six online workshops for those in pastoral ministry.  

To support those in ministry, these workshops are offered at no cost.

This workshop series explores the critical question, 'Who supports those in ministry?' Drawing from extensive experience, it highlights how ministry demands affect wellbeing, leading to rising exhaustion, burnout, and despondency.

Tailored for those in pastoral ministry, these workshops aim to enhance mental wellbeing as well as being supportive of those in ministry experiencing mental health challenges. Drawing on 36 years of expertise, I will share professional insights into mental wellbeing and the connection between faith, spirituality, and wellbeing.

Each workshop will address various ministry aspects through a wellbeing perspective, providing opportunities to reflect and share experiences with peers. Participants will employ the 'sphere of enquiry' analytical tool to contextualize wellbeing theory within the reality of their ministry. By the end of the workshop series, attendees will acquire practical tools to support their wellbeing and strengthen their resilience.

The workshops provide an in-depth exploration of wellbeing theory and practice tailored for your ministry. We will cover ministry related wellbeing topics and I invite participants to contribute their own discussion points.

The final workshop will offer a year-end reflection, assess the impact of your ministry on your wellbeing, identify possible changes for 2026, and explore summer strategies for rejuvenation.

Online workshop delivery

The online series, consisting of six 3-hour workshops, will be held Thursdays 9.30am to 12.30pm on:Workshop 1:   06 March
Workshop 2:   01 May
Workshop 3:   19 June
Workshop 4:   14 August
Workshop 5:   09 October
Workshop 6:   04 December

The workshops will be delivered via Zoom.  Connection details and workshop notes shall be emailed to you on the day before each workshop.

Workshop 1: Thursday 6 March
Theoretical foundations of wellbeing
Different outcomes for different purposes - the difference between welfare, wellness and wellbeing approaches
Yes but what actually do you do? - Working often with complex issues and having to function in a role that has a wide range of outputs / tasks that may not be clearly defined.
Vocation as opposed to a job - Contextualising the Spheres of Enquiry audit tool

Workshop 2: Thursday 1 May
Social and cultural determinants of wellbeing
Conceptual models of wellbeing: The Wheel of Wellbeing and Te Whare Tapa Whā
Defining wellbeing
Wellbeing Outcomes

Workshop 3:  Thursday 19 June
Reflective practice - a model for celebrating achievements and on-going learning and adapting
Embedding wellbeing thinking in the professional supervision process
A wellbeing framework for those in pastoral ministry

Workshop 4: Thursday 14 August
The rollercoaster of the highs and lows of pastoral ministry
Yes but.. setting boundaries and limits
Tired and feeling flat: The tell-tale signs of despondency, exhaustion or burnout and what can be done about it
Hearing the pain but not owning the pain - Protecting your wairua while engaging in ministry with people in distress and understanding vicarious trauma

Workshop 5: Thursday 9 October
Compassionate change making - Self care and being your 'agent of wellbeing'
Companions on the journey - the role of collegiality in wellbeing
Clinical safety - working in risk adverse environments

Workshop 6: Thursday 4 December
Sprinting or crawling to the end of the year? Taking stock at the end of the year
Having a break -The role of intentional recreation

Where to from here?
In addition to the workshops I offer one on one supervision, mentoring and debriefing on complex pastoral ministry issues related to suicide and wellbeing as well as leading workshops for parishes, religious communities and clergy on wellbeing. I provide lectures in theological colleges and ministry formation programmes.

Workshops Format

Each workshop will feature presentations on wellbeing theory and outcomes to provide context for group activities. Participants will engage in small group work to brainstorm practical wellbeing actions based on the outcomes. Finally, a large group discussion will synthesize the presentations and small group findings.

Workshop Recordings:
We understand that pastoral ministry responsibilities may prevent participants from attending all workshops. Therefore, all sessions are recorded and accessible for one month post-event.

An opportunity for learning with internationally respected and award winning mental wellbeing practitioner and suicidologist, Barry Taylor

Barry has worked in mental wellbeing promotion and suicide prevention/postvention for 36 years at the local, national and international levels.  His extensive experience includes sitting on state and national government advisory committees; designing, implementing and evaluating suicide prevention programs; writing suicide prevention guidelines, training packages and community resources; providing technical advice to community based and national mental wellbeing and suicide prevention programs. He developed the first guidelines for schools in responding to youth suicide and was involved in the review of the current national guidelines.

He has led multiple ‘firsts’ in mental wellbeing promotion initiaitives both in Aotearoa-New Zealand and overseas.  In recognition of his leadership and outstanding contribution and leadership to mental wellbeing and suicide prevention, he was awarded in 2016 the NSW Mental Health Commissioner's Community Champion Award.  He currently sits on the Health and Disability Ethics Committee.

Barry has lectured on wellbeing both nationally and internationally and been appointed to numerous government advisory committees on mental wellbeing and suicide prevention.  He brings to this workshop extensive experience in advising communities and government on post-disaster recovery in terms of both mental wellbeing promotion / community resiliency and suicide prevention. 

As a Health Sociologist and Public Health practitioner, he takes a broad approach to what shapes and influences our wellbeing, in particular the social and cultural determinants. He uses a population health and systems change approach, drawing on transformational change theory and collective impact.  Underpinning his wellbeing framework  is an holistic understanding of wellbeing which includes the role that 'spirituality' and ecology contributes to a person's wellbeing.

After a number of years overseas, he is  living back here and is passionate about  promoting well and thriving individuals, whānau, workplaces and communities and supporting those working in counselling roles.

In-Person Workshops:
This workshop series can also be delivered in-person as a two day workshop.  Ideal for clergy fellowships, diocesan or regional networks to come together to work on wellbeing strategies for themselves.  Contact Barry Taylor to discuss.

WORKSHOP DETAILS

WORKSHOP PLACES ARE LIMITED. REGISTER EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT

Places in the workshop are limited. If the workshop is full please register your name on the waitlist

Cancellation
Workshops can fill quickly. If you are no longer able to attend the workshop please cancel your registration as soon as possible.

Disclaimer: The information and professional advice delivered in the workshop and the associated printed material is provided solely on the basis that before relying on this material, participants should obtain appropriate advice relevant to their particular circumstance to evaluate its accuracy, currency, completeness and relevance for their purposes. TaylorMade Training and Consulting will not be liable for any damages of any kind to any person or entity arising from the use of this information. Your attendance at this workshop reflects your acceptance of this statement.

Organiser Contact Details

Barry Taylor
Principal Consultant |  TaylorMade Training and Consulting
Mobile:  022 397 9294
Email:  registration@4wellbeing.nz   Website:  www.4wellbeing.nz