In the synod’s January e-newsletter, Talmage wrote about his health journey, sharing how he sees himself as a witness to synod pastors and lay leaders. “The life of a bishop is just not healthy because you are constantly responding to high stress environments.”Īlthough he continues to travel a lot, Talmage sets aside time every day for cardio exercise and does his best to eat right and get more sleep. “That really began my journey trying to maintain a healthier lifestyle in the midst of a job that is very unhealthy,” he said.
Realizing that stress was a major factor affecting his health, Talmage vowed after his surgery to alter his lifestyle. Nine years ago Stephen Talmage, bishop of the Grand Canyon Synod, was shocked to learn he needed quadruple bypass surgery. “We, as leaders, are to mentor and model a life that is different from society, to be countercultural,” she said. “There’s also the sense that their schedules don’t allow them the opportunity for the amount of lifestyle changes or good choices they would like.”ĭevine encourages clergy to focus on their God-given strengths and gifts instead of feeling responsible to lead every project or task in a congregation. “There is a high level of stress that our leaders are carrying,” said Tammy Devine, ELCA wellness manager. By making room for other people to use their strengths, we’re all healthier and better,” Uthe said. “I really think of it as taking something off my plate for the sake of the greater mission. By relying more on her congregation, Uthe discovered that she could achieve more balance in her life. The mother of two realized after the birth of her first child that she couldn’t do everything.
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In addition to bringing new items to the table, Uthe has learned how to remove things from her plate. I know that at annual meetings there will be a lot of casseroles filled with potatoes and cheese, so I choose to bring something green, like Brussels sprouts or kale salad, to introduce something new to the table,” she said. “I know that on Sunday mornings there will be sweets. John Lutheran Church, Ely, Iowa, suffers from an autoimmune disorder so staying healthy is a must. Church events often feature an abundance of food.Įrika Uthe, pastor of St. Before I was just running on adrenaline.” To address these health concerns, Portico launched the ELCA wellness reformation to invite ELCA rostered and lay employees to pursue healthier lifestyles in 2016.īut long, stressful days aren’t the only culprit affecting pastors’ health. “Keeping my stress level down means taking time for myself,” she said. She started making time to knit, which helped reduce stress. So when the health coach asked about taking time for herself, Hendricks-McCracken realized that, although she was paying attention to her eating habits and exercise, she had ignored an important aspect of her health. “We became very serious about it, and over about a year’s time we both lost 30 pounds,” she said. It also found that 58 percent aren’t getting enough exercise.Īfter taking the assessment in 2014, Hendricks-McCracken realized she and her husband needed to pay closer attention to their health. The 2014 Portico health self-assessment (the most recent results available) found that ELCA clergy and rostered laypeople are at risk for high blood pressure (56 percent), poor emotional health (59 percent), poor nutrition (71 percent) and being overweight (72 percent). Every year Portico invites plan members to complete a health assessment, which provides financial incentives for plan members who participate in healthy lifestyle activities. Portico provides benefits for ELCA rostered and lay employees. According to the coach, teaching confirmation wasn’t an acceptable answer. “Well, teach confirmation,” was her response to the question from a health coach provided by Portico Benefit Services. When asked what she did for fun outside of church, Karol Hendricks-McCracken, pastor of New Salem Lutheran Church, Turtle River, Minn., couldn’t answer.
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