3 Conversations About Rest & Renewal in Ministry
In the pulpit, at a hospital bedside, or working behind the scenes to care for a congregation, it can be difficult to find time and space to pause, reflect, and breathe deeply. At Ministry Forum, we believe in making space for the kind of honest conversations that remind us: you are not alone.
Over the past year we’ve hosted three episodes on the Ministry Forum Podcast highlighting a different facet of how ministry leaders are finding ways to sustain their calling. These episodes aren’t just interviews—they’re invitations - to rest, to renew your sense of purpose, and to learn from the hard-earned wisdom of others who’ve been in the trenches.
Whether you're exploring the possibilities of taking an Intermission, wondering how churches can better engage with mental health, or curious about what spiritual care looks like in long-term healthcare settings, we hope these conversations will offer you both insight and encouragement.
Take a listen—and share them with a friend or colleague who might need to hear these stories too.
Inter-Mission Experiences – A Panel Discussion
Each guest shares how they discovered the policy, what motivated them to take it, how they prepared, and what they experienced during their time away. They reflect on challenges such as feeling guilty, setting boundaries with their congregations, and overcoming the initial difficulty of truly resting. Despite diverse ministry contexts, all found the intermission deeply rejuvenating and ultimately beneficial not just for themselves, but also for their congregations.
Quotables:
“But I had to, like, kind of forgive myself, let go right that I didn't accomplish that part of the intermission. So it's definitely a learning a learning experience for me.” - Rev. Meg Patterson
“We're going to miss you not being here. But you go, and I'm like, wow, overwhelmed with the grace of congregations and people and individuals at times, not to say that others in the congregation don't have commentary about that afterwards, but there's still a sense of the grace and gift of the people in your space and place.” - Rev. John Borthwick
“I think that taking these kinds of breaks proactively, so that we're not doing it because we're desperately in need of time away, but we're doing it because we know it's healthy and because we'll come back better, and because sometimes we just need to do something different. And so to be able to give permission to ourselves to admit that we're tired and that we need a break, and I think all of those things are really, really important for us to be able to do as ministers and leaders. And it also shows our people, because I have so many people in my congregation who are so tired and who work such long hours. And how can we advise them to try to find more balance if we're not willing to do it ourselves? So I think it also allows us to be a good example.” - Rev. Meg Patterson
Inter-mission 101 with Rev. John Borthwick
John shares insights from his own experience, having taken three inter-missions throughout his ministry. He highlights the importance of stepping away from the demands of ministry to recharge and avoid burnout. The conversation covers practical aspects, like planning with your congregation, securing pulpit supply, and setting boundaries during the break. John also discusses the benefits for both ministers and congregations, as intermission allows for personal rejuvenation and introduces new voices to the church community.
Quotables:
Inter-mission is an extended period of Sabbath… It's about stopping the practice of ministry and just being for an extended period of time. - Rev. John Borthwick
There’s a lot of reasons why this is a really good idea for ministers… Ministers carry a lot of what you might call secondary stress or trauma, vicarious trauma. It’s a lot to be a minister in a congregational setting. - Rev. John Borthwick
When I would come back, they would say, ‘Man, you come back so energized, so refreshed. We can tell. - Rev. John Borthwick
If this can be part of the practices that sustain someone in ministry, then I think this could be a really valuable piece. - Rev. John Borthwick
Retreating with Rev. Dr. Kristine O’Brien
Kristine reflects on her shift from congregational ministry to leading Crieff Hills, stressing how vital Sabbath rest and breaks (or "intermissions") are for avoiding burnout and sparking creativity in ministry. She talks about how taking intentional time for rest can refresh ministry leaders, helping them serve more effectively. Kristine also shares how Crieff Hills has evolved, now welcoming a variety of groups—from nonprofits to different faith traditions. The centre focuses on hospitality, spiritual renewal, and even innovative projects like ecological farming. This discussion highlights the importance of rest, creativity, and adaptability for healthy and thriving ministry.
Quotables:
“And I tell all of my colleagues, there is no reason you need to work six days. You can accomplish everything you need to accomplish in five and you need to. Your body needs you to do that. Your family needs you to do that. Your Parish actually needs you to do that. The world will be a better place if you have more time. But I also think that we're our worst enemy, and part of it is self-importance and arrogance.” - Rev. Dr. Kristine O’Brien
“You know, we say this is a place here for rest, for renewal, for transformation. And I was thinking about this in preparation for today. And I thought, you know, a lot of what we do as an organization, as a space, is we hold space for people. It's what we do. God's doing all the work of creating transformation, meeting people where they are, whether that's through prayer or meditation or art or whatever it is, community building. We simply we hold the space. We make sure it's beautiful and well cared for. We create, beautiful meals. You know, we even plan programs, but that holding the space is a piece of hospitality. So that really is, it's grown out of congregational ministry. It's grown out of that DMin work that I did, my understanding of what we're doing.” - Rev. Dr. Kristine O’Brien