What does it mean to Flourish?

Matt Bloom, a researcher at Notre Dame University, has researched over 10,000 pastors from over 20 denominations to assess the pastor's role and flourishing.  Pastoral work is complex, challenging, often arduous, sometimes exhausting and is valuable to the lives of those in the church and community.  Bloom poses a critical question:  How do we help pastors not just survive, but flourish in their work? From his perspective, there are environmental and personal contributors. A flourishing support system would include:

• Daily well-being

• Supportive relationships

• Resilience and authenticity

• A flexible call to ministry

The Bible and theology bring a voice of wisdom and perhaps call out an otherworldly cadence for the pastor to follow.  First, a theology of flourishing is grounded in Biblical theology. God is a triune God, three persons living in loving unity.  While this should shape every believer's relationship, the pastor is commissioned to lead a community into experiencing and expressing this richness of God.  Second, flourishing is grounded in a dynamic ecclesiology, where the Spirit of God is graciously displaying love, grace, and truth through and love by his gifts and power resident within the faith community.

The CPF is committed to helping pastors to flourish in their work, and have a positive impact on the church and communities they serve.