Are you feeling STUCK in ministry?
Have you ever felt stuck in ministry? Not in the sense of burnout or a crisis of faith, but in a deeper, systemic way—like the structures around you are holding you back from living out your true calling?
If so, you're not alone.
And maybe it's not just something you need to understand—it’s a conversation your congregation might benefit from hearing too.
We’re excited to invite you to an event with Dr. Todd W. Ferguson, author of a book celebrated by clergy: Stuck: Why Clergy Are Alienated from Their Calling, Congregation, and Career… and What To Do About It. Todd is a sociologist, former pastor, and passionate advocate for reshaping how we approach ministry. His research dives into the challenges many clergy face today—not just as individuals, but as leaders navigating systems that weren’t built for the complexities of modern ministry.
This event, hosted at Crieff Hills Retreat Centre, is a chance to reset, reflect, and reconnect.
AND it’s not just for clergy. If you have a lay leader, elder, or trusted member of your congregation who would benefit from hearing this conversation, why not invite them along? Ministry is a shared journey, and equipping our communities to understand the realities of leadership is one of the best ways we can support one another.
About the Event
Sunday Evening: A Night to Recharge
For those looking for an immersive experience, we’re kicking off Sunday night with an intimate farm-to-table dinner prepared by Chef Matthew. This isn’t just a fancy meal; it’s an opportunity to share stories and connect deeply with Dr. Ferguson and fellow ministry leaders in a relaxed setting. Afterward, we’ll gather around the fire in Luke House with snacks and drinks for rich, honest conversation. Then, retreat to your private room (with an ensuite!) to rest and recharge before Monday.
Monday: A Day to Reflect and Grow
Monday begins with a larger gathering. Dr. Ferguson will lead us through a workshop exploring key insights from Stuck, and we’ll hear from a panel of clergy who’ve wrestled with the book’s themes in their own contexts. With time for discussion, connection, and a delicious lunch included, this is a day designed to inspire and equip you for the journey ahead.
Why you Should Come …and bring a member of your session too!
Ministry leaders often feel like they’re walking this path alone. But here’s the truth: the challenges you face aren’t just your challenges—they’re our challenges. Dr. Ferguson’s book makes it clear that structural forces are at play, and addressing them requires a shared understanding between clergy and the congregations they serve.
By attending this event with someone from your community, you’re taking a proactive step toward building that understanding. Together, you can explore practical strategies to create a culture of support that frees leaders to focus on what they’re truly called to do—inside and outside the church walls.
Register Now
About Todd W. Ferguson
Director of Social Sciences Quantitative Methods Program
Assistant Teaching Professor of Sociology
Rice University
Todd W. Ferguson is a sociologist of religion who specializes in studying congregations and pastors. In his 2022 book STUCK, he analyzed interviews of clergy who no longer wanted to lead their congregations. He and his co-author discovered that it wasn’t psychological burnout or a loss of faith for these pastors. It was the structure of the profession that led to their alienation from their career and calling. These leaders felt that the congregation was no longer the place where they could follow their calling. They wanted out but felt stuck in the ministry.
Todd serves as the Director of the Social Sciences Quantitative Methods Program and an Assistant Teaching Professor of Sociology at Rice University. He leads the undergraduate social statistics curriculum and loves training students to use large amounts of data to make discoveries about our social world.
Todd earned his Ph.D. in Sociology at Baylor University and an M.Div. at Duke Divinity School. Before becoming a sociologist, he was a pastor for a congregation in Houston, Texas.
Todd is married to Emma, a veterinarian, and they have two beautiful children. They live in Houston, Texas.
Education
Ph.D. in Sociology (Baylor University)
M.A. in Sociology (Baylor University)
M.Div. (Duke University)
Find out more about Todd and his work at www.twferguson.com.
About the Book: STUCK Why Clergy Are Alienated from Their Calling, Congregation, and Career… and What do Do about it.
Stuck is a guide for understanding how and why a traditional approach to ministry does not align with the modern realities facing pastors, congregations, and seminaries. More than simply describing findings from their firsthand research, however, Todd W. Ferguson and Josh Packard offer a new understanding of why professional ministry can be so alienating today.
Stuck shifts the dominant narrative around calling, vocation, and ministry away from a focus on individual traits and characteristics of pastors and congregational leaders and toward a more structural understanding of the social forces that impact modern ministry. The authors focus on the nature of calling; the need for modern, flexible congregational supports; and a different approach to training professional clergy.
Stuck lets pastors who feel stuck know that they're not alone, they're not crazy, and it's not their fault. It helps congregations be more supportive of their clergy. And it participates in the conversation for reshaping seminary training and professional development.