Resources, Ministries and Services
for Ordained, Commissioned and Licensed Clergy

Parish clergy have extraordinary demands on their time, lives, resources, and family life. New England Pastoral Institute, Inc has a variety of programs uniquely designed to resource, refresh, and renew pastors' calls to ministry and their personal development. The Institute offers individual and group opportunities for support, nurture, spiritual direction, and continuing education. Programs and services for pastors are designed and staffed by ordained clergy who understand from their own ministries the complexities and realities of congregational leadership. This valuable combination of purpose, resources, and experience assures creative and competent programming. Each staff professional is licensed, certified, and experienced to provide care for caregivers. The cornerstone of the Institute's existence is grounded in providing a haven for clergy to find

- Preventive maintenance
- Spiritual, vocational, relational and emotional rest, restoration, and renewal
- Support in times of crisis
- Resources for marital, relational, and family well being.
- Consultation regarding difficult parishioners, staff conflicts, and problematic moments in the life and work of boards, commissions, and committees
- Consultation and supervision in areas of ethical issues and boundary violations

These resources are provided in the following ways:

Psychotherapy
Spirituality, personal and professional identity and relational health are understood by the Staff to be integrated and inseparable. Each pastoral psychotherapist at the Institute is on his or her own journey of spiritual fulfillment, personal growth, and healing wholeness. They deeply understand from their own experiences what it means to wear the sandals of discipleship and the yokes of ministry. Therefore, pastoral psychotherapy provided by the Institute brings together the aspects of professional, personal and spiritual life. Confidentiality and trust are the mainstays of the pastoral psychotherapy offered to clergy who are seeking intervention, spiritual and emotional self-knowledge, and resources for a rich and satisfying life. The pastoral psychotherapy is provided in modalities that include individual, group, and family contexts.

Clergy Groups
The collegiality and support of other clergy is a vital part of resourcing pastors' needs for consultation, supervision, fellowship, study, and nurture. A variety of groups are offered at the Institute including:

- Support
- Consultation
- Supervision
- Education
- Psychotherapy
- Recreation
- Spiritual direction
- Case presentation of pastoral care issues
- Stress management

Relational Support
Often the last to receive intervention and resource are those closest to the pastor. Spouses and children of clergy have needs for pastoring and support that cannot always be provided by the pastor. The pastorate is often described as the loneliest vocation. Clergy hold tender confidences, carry heavy burdens, juggle the demands of family and parish, and are laden with expectations for decisions made with wisdom and justice. These demand much of a person, family, congregation, and denominational community. New England Pastoral Institute's caring for caregivers is extended to all individuals, families, congregations, and systems in need of healing, nurture, and intervention.

Retreats
The opportunity to pause for a respite of reflection, renewal and refreshment is a powerful way to remain energized and grounded in a successful ministry. The openness to God's will and word in a setting of peace and tranquility can heal, stimulate, and renew a pastor's call. It centers the pastor in the meaning and challenge of ordination and invites discernment of the direction and fulfillment of one's pastorate. Retreats offered by the Institute are individually designed for clergy seeking deeper relationship with God, more meaningful connectedness with others, and self-knowledge bearing truth that sets free and brings life abundant. Each retreat is tailored to the individual pastor and utilizes the resources of pastoral psychotherapy, consultation, spiritual direction, and the Institute's extensive library. Retreats yield goals for professional and personal development and a profound sense of God's loving and merciful presence.