Donald R. Hands and Wayne L. Fehr, Spiritual Wholeness for Clergy: A New Psychology of Intimacy with God, Self and Others. Alban Institute, 1994.
Referenced in: Minister Self-Care
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
A result of the authors’ work with troubled ministers, this insightful book begins with a summary of the theological, psychological and spiritual factors contributing to ministerial burnout. It then lays out a balanced healing process in a way somewhat parallel to the journey of the heart’s yearning for God. The process involves three-steps:
- Via Purgativa – purgative or “uncovering”
- Via Illuminativa – illuminative or “discovering”
- Via Unitiva – unitive or “recovering”
The idea is to help the minister recover the lost “child of God,” especially over against the patterns of shame and the resulting addictions and compulsions learned in dysfunctional families of origin. They integrate the progression of Twelve-Steps and stress the importance of community and humility in achieving what they call the “slow healing of shame.” From there, they demonstrate how both the dysfunctions and the healing processes work themselves out in intimacy with self, with others, and with God. For those whose ministry disillusionment and burnout are at least partially attributable to shame, this is perhaps the most succinct yet complete description of the healing necessary for one to move healthfully into the next stage of their ministry. Highly recommended.
From the Publisher
The authors combine clinical psychology and spiritual direction to create a practical model of spirituality that integrates theology, psychology, and an understanding of individual frailties in a new way. Spiritual Wholeness draws on counseling experience with more than 400 clergy and pinpoints the human problems, traps, and temptations awaiting those who choose the clergy role. Clergy will learn to develop and maintain a psychologically healthy spirituality in relationships with others. Judicatory executives and therapists working with clergy will gain insight into addiction problems and how to help clergy move toward greater emotional and spiritual health.
About the Author
Wayne Fehr and Don Hands are both Episcopal priests. Wayne is also a professional theologian while Don is a clinical psychologist. Together they have provided over 10,000 hours of group and individual spiritual direction and psychotherapy to over 300 clergy and religious with emotional and addictive disorders. They founded the St. Barnabas treatment program, an ecumenical, hospital community where the clinical and spiritual are integrated.
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