New Models for Ministry in 2026?
I’m often in spaces where people are wondering about new models for ministry. I’d acknowledge though that people are still quite stuck within the container of a congregation or should I say a church building - not that there’s anything wrong with that! We love churches and congregations and supporting them as they seek to thrive in their mission to bring good news to people.
But at Ministry Forum we also celebrate conversations that imagine a future yet to come or that is emerging where ministry is serving beyond four walls. Truth is that this has been a reality since Jesus walked the earth. That’s why we like to use the phrase “Ministry Leader” for the individuals we serve - it isn’t just for clergy or elders or members of a congregation specifically… it is open to everyone who has a ministry as inspired by Jesus and is infused with the Holy Spirit.
We are living in a time though where congregations in particular are looking for options… and so, it is from that perspective that we highlight a couple of “creative ways” we’ve seen recently.
This first one has come up in a few different contexts. As many of you may know, Knox College and many other seminaries offer a Master of Psychospiritual Studies (MPS) program that prepares graduates to become registered psychotherapists and/or spiritual care providers in a variety of settings.
Some people see it as taking away from traditional ministry training as opposed to simply viewing it as a different expression of transformative and meaningful ministry for today’s context. I mean, just listen to a few of our current MPS students from last season’s Ministry Forum Podcast and I think you will realize pretty quickly that their focus is on ministry.
The Future of Psychospiritual Care
Sara Traficante joins John Borthwick as a co-host to speak with students from Knox College’s Master of Psychospiritual Studies program. Together, they explore what drew them to this unique field, how their sense of calling has evolved through study and clinical experience, and why psychospiritual care matters in today’s world. From hospital chaplaincy to community counselling, each story reveals the deeply reflective and relational work at the heart of spiritual care. The conversation also celebrates the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Association for Spiritual Care (CASC) and the growing need for compassionate presence in a world that is both hurting and hopeful. Listen Now
But I’ve also talked with congregational leaders who are imagining an opportunity to engage MPS grads as faith formation leaders providing for worship and pastoral care in a church while at the same time animating a psychotherapy practice that may benefit their members but with a vision to support mental health and wellbeing needs in their local community.
That kind of creativity seems to me to be seeking to answer that better question I asked few months ago:
“What will the future need from a congregation like ours?”
And we talked with a minister who has been called to such a context in Madoc, Ontario. The Rev. Rebekah Mitchell talked with our Ministry Forum Intern, Sara Traficante about this unique call on our podcast a while ago.
Now, Rev. Mitchell’s situation is different, I’ll grant you, she holds both an MDiv and an MPS and is ordained. But I believe that we could definitely see a few more of our exclusively MPS grads working in collaboration with part-time congregational settings to fulfill their mutual goals to love and serve God’s people where they are planted.
Interview with The Rev. Rebekah Mitchell
A conversation with Rev. Rebekah Mitchell, minister at St. Peter’s in Madoc and a two-time Knox College alum,. Rebekah shares her journey from pandemic burnout to rediscovering her call to ministry through psycho-spiritual therapy. Rebekah reflects on her studies in the MPS program, her practicum experiences in psychotherapy, and how those skills are now shaping her creative, community-oriented ministry. Together, they explore the intersection of spiritual care and mental health, how the church can meaningfully engage its surrounding community, and the importance of adapting ministry in a changing world. Plus, a delightful bonus for baseball fans: Rebekah’s passion for the Toronto Blue Jays! Listen Now
Another option is one that was featured through Duke Divinity’s Faith and Leadership recently, where they highlighted a Canadian example where a partnership was created between a congregation and a counseling centre. You can read more about it here where our friends from Shalem Mental Health Network have recreated an affordable counselling assistance program modeled on traditional Employee Assistance programs. Check it out!
I’ve had the opportunity to talk with some passionate mental health advocates who are seeking to engage the Church in these conversations. Later this year, we will be sharing a three part Ministry Forum Podcast series on Mental Health and the Church. Stay tuned.