Duke Clergy Health Collaborative

05/20/2026

To care for clergy is to understand clergy—especially the stressors they face in their calling.

Read our recent newsletter to learn about these common sources of stress and how our new resource, Bear One Another's Burdens, helps congregational leaders identify easy ways to lighten the load.

To care for clergy is to understand clergy—especially the stressors they face in their calling. Our new resource helps congregational leaders identify easy ways to lighte

05/06/2026

In a recent interview, Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, Director of Clergy Health Collaborative, shares insights from extensive research on mental health, stress management, and the importance of positive emotions within clergy and their families.

These insights include strategies that work for every clergy and one that matters the most for married clergy. Check out the interview!

Dr Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell, PhD, is a Professor of Global Health at Duke University and Director of the Duke Clergy Health Initiative, for which she has bee...

04/22/2026

In April’s newsletter, we explore recent findings from the Seminary to Early Ministry Study (SEM): those with the most devout childhoods actually suffered significantly more when facing religious and spiritual struggles—or internal conflicts, doubts, or tensions regarding their belief system. What might be going on?

Learn more via the link.

https://clergyhealth.duke.edu/blog-post/devout-childhood-can-make-spiritual-struggles-harder-seminarians/

04/16/2026

April is Stress Awareness Month, and Duke experts have shared 5 simple stress-management habits that can easily be woven into daily routines.

These quick, simple ways include taking a breath (try box breathing), identifying your emotions, going for a walk (even just for 5-10 minutes), using an online tool, and taking a grounding moment.

Reducing your stress doesn’t have to take hours. What will you try today?

Read the full tips here:

Image Image courtesy of Duke Marketing & Communications. Caption Close Image Image courtesy of Duke Marketing & Communications. 5 Quick Ways to Relieve Stress During Your Day Duke experts share fast, simple ways to calm your mind Published April 6, 2026 Credits Stephen Schramm Working@Duke Senior Wr...

04/01/2026

This Lenten season, we have journeyed together toward a resurrected life by distancing ourselves from unnecessary shame, which so often creates a barrier to healthy ministry. As we move into the joy of Easter, let’s carry forward the practices of self-compassion and distanced self-talk (speaking to oneself as a fierce friend would).

Our website hosts these resources (and many more!) to support you in the season ahead. Grace and peace to you this Easter.

This Lent we’re focusing on shame—that sneaky barrier to healthy ministry—and how the practice of "distanced self-talk" can help soothe it. Image Want to experience less

03/23/2026

It’s Women's History Month, and we’re exploring why a good partner is key to married clergywomen’s satisfaction in ministry—and how congregations may play a big role in their well-being.

Our researchers found that spousal support is the most important kind of support for married clergywomen’s satisfaction in ministry. But when we ran the analysis separately by gender, we found a surprisingly different story for men. Married clergymen were most satisfied when they had a variety of social support; support from their spouse alone mattered less.

Check out our newest blog to learn more!

https://clergyreligionresearch.duke.edu/blog-post/good-partner-key-married-clergywomens-satisfaction-ministry-why-it-different-story/

03/18/2026

This Lent, we have been reflecting on shame and how the practice of distanced self-talk can help soothe it. However, distanced self-talk only works if you are channeling the voice of a “fierce friend.” (Talking to yourself as a critical parent or disinterested partner only compounds shame.)

In her guided meditation, researcher Kristin Neff describes the voice of a fierce friend as someone who combines “strength with love,” who is “wise and all-knowing,” and who “sees you—your history, your patterns—clearly.”

Hop over to our website to explore the practice of distanced self-talk and Neff’s meditation.

https://clergyreligionresearch.duke.edu/blog-post/how-have-shameless-lent/

03/11/2026

What are the most common challenges faced by women in ministry, and how can the church prevent or effectively navigate harm when it occurs?

Join us for a presentation by RaSCL Postdoc Associate Dr. Elizabeth Johnson, who will share findings from her research on clergywomen in the Episcopal Church and Mennonite Church USA. This conversation will explore the experiences of women in congregational ministry and how we can contribute to a world where clergy of all genders thrive.

Open to the Duke Divinity School community and students! See you there.

03/09/2026

David Eagle, Director of the Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL), and Valerie Ling, Clinical Psychologist and founder of The Centre for Effective Living and The Centre for Effective Serving, discuss the mental health of seminary students and offer insights into how seminaries and churches can better support those early in their ministerial careers.

Watch the full video to learn what our data reveals and why it matters for the future of ministry.

Dr David Eagle is an Associate Research Professor of Global Health and Sociology. He leads the Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL) RaSCL. RaSCL is a team ...

03/04/2026

How do we resist shame and gain more self-compassion this Lent? Allow us to share with you the (free and habit-forming!) evidence-based practice of “distanced self-talk.”

Distanced self-talk is a practice in which you address yourself as you would another person. In his TED Talk, psychologist Ethan Kross describes how the practice can serve as a helpful remedy to Solomon’s Paradox—the phenomenon of giving great advice to other people but stumbling mightily to take our own!

To dive deeper into distanced self-talk and watch Ethan’s TED Talk, visit our website.

clergyreligionresearch.duke.edu/how-have-shameless-lent