Lutheran Family Service News
Posted on September 1, 2023
by Lindy Hinckley, tLMFT
Meet Lindy Hinckley, tLMFT, a marriage and family therapist serving clients in Deadwood, South Dakota, as well as the surrounding area including Sturgis and Rapid City, and throughout the state via telehealth. With a passion for fostering community and connection as an antidote to isolation, Lindy brings understanding and experience as a pastor’s wife and parent of a child with special needs.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on September 27, 2022
by Rev. Dave Gunderson, LMFT
Many church members have a big heart and want to help in caring for church workers. But, they don’t always know how. Read on for 20 ways that you individually and your congregation can care for your pastor and other professional church workers.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on July 25, 2022
by Toni Larson, LISW
Church worker families have their actions and lives scrutinized by parishioners and folks in the general public. There is overwhelming pressure to be a “perfect” family that handles all situations and stresses flawlessly and without breaking a sweat.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on May 18, 2022
by Toni Larson, LISW
Church workers’ transitions run the gamut of exciting, joyful, frightening and stressful. In addition to the usual church year transitions, there are transitions from one call to another and one home to another. For Lutheran school teachers, the transition is growing one class of students, saying goodbye, then welcoming another class a few months later.
Preparation can be helpful in handling life’s changes to reduce stress and expedite adjustment. In her article, “Ten Tips for Handling Life’s Transitions,” author Nylse Esahc (Ibelieve.com, March 10, 2019), suggested the following points with accompanying Bible references, followed by my observations.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on February 28, 2022
by Toni Larson, LISW
Maintaining healthy boundaries is a challenging but vital task for pastors and other church workers. Without healthy boundaries, workers run the risk of compassion fatigue, interpersonal conflict and role confusion.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on June 4, 2021
by Toni Larson, LISW
Church workers don’t enter their vocation without bringing along their personal histories. This is the case with many helping professionals; they enter service professions having experienced their own issues. These issues could be personal or family trauma (abuse, substance abuse, loss of a parent or sibling, etc.); they may be genetically or biologically predisposed to depression, anxiety disorders, or addictions; they may develop, due to their circumstances and personality, depression, anxiety, addiction issues, etc.; and they may encounter current stressful life issues with their own spouse or children, congregations, transitions in life such as empty nest and retirement, and community conflict.
Church Worker Wellness
Posted on July 23, 2019
Church workers and their families suffer, just like anyone else, and they are more likely to feel isolated and unable to seek help.
