Definition

Pastoral Supervision is a where ministers and ministry workers meet regularly with a Supervisor in a safe, confidential and courageous setting to reflect on their practice, learn from it, and discover how to do things differently moving forward.

Why Supervision?

In the past 12 months 35% of Australian ministers considered quitting

(Judy Adamson, “In the last 12 months 35% of Australian Ministers Considered Quitting”, SydneyAnglicans.net 4 June, 2023 quoting research by Valerie Ling)

Ministers are often trapped in the minimalism of just getting it all done, so taking regular time to reflect on ministry and its personal impacts is incredibly valuable.

The question often is: Where does a minister go to process sensitive issues safely and confidentially? Supervision is just the kind of place ministers and pastors need!

Common Questions in Supervision

How can I develop the best approach to my ministry?

How can I develop better solutions to my ministry related challenges?

How am I managing ministry demands, and how might I do ministry better?

How can I develop behaviours and perspectives that enable healthier and more sustainable ministry practice?

Scripture commands me to “watch your life and doctrine closely” – I need a safe place and a safe person to do that with.

Proven Benefits

I feel more supported (97%)

I can process my feelings with greater clarity (92%)

I can safely experience my own vulnerability (92%)

I gain insight into my own feelings (90%)

I can manage difficult situations more effectively (88%)

I gain different perspectives on situations & people (88%)

I feel less isolated (86%)

(Source: Gubi et al, “An evaluation of supervisee’s perceptions of the benefits and limitations of pastoral/reflective supervision among Christian clergy in the UK”, Routledge, 2023)

The Core Focus of Supervision

Supervision helps develop ‘broader vision’ with regular and relaxed conversations toward new perspectives on one’s ministry.

Your facilitator: David Groenenboom

40 years experience in pastoral ministry & denominational development (Christian Reformed Churches of Australia)

5 years NGO experience in relationship management and development (IJM Australia)

Accredited professional/pastoral supervisor (AAOS)

What others say…

“I have found supervision to have been a really powerful stabiliser in isolating, reviewing and mitigating difficult head and heart issues related to my new context and my professional conduct within it … Dave has been patient and kind. He has entered into my emotion with respectful empathy”

“Dave was incredibly helpful in walking with me through what has been the trickiest and most taxing period of my time in ministry. Having someone who knew my situation and context well was invaluable.”

Redemptive Theological Reflection

Where it’s helpful, I employ redemptive theological reflection in our sessions. This can bring clarity and distinct hope in complex situations.

The redemptive model

• Provides welcome opportunity for the person to talk about their experience
• Allows Scripture to speak into life and ministry
• Applies the good news of Jesus in a way that is both pastorally sensitive and wonderfully transformative
• Encourages the development of specific, grounded action plans to help the person move forward

How does Pastoral Supervision differ from coaching and mentoring?

There will always be some overlap between these three modalities. Mentoring, coaching and supervision are all incredibly valuable. They are all very relational spaces, and there is a wide variety of approaches with each.

At risk of oversimplifying, you could say that mentoring is typically a relationship between a minister/ministry worker with a mentor: a more senior pastor/leader who brings their life experience and wisdom to the table. Discussion commonly revolves around the mentee’s learning and development of their ministry vision.

Coaching tends to focus on goals related to a person’s specific role, or on the development of specific life goals and strategies. Keith Webb reminds us “Coaching is an ongoing intentional conversation that empowers a person or group to fully live out God’s calling” (The Coach Method).

Pastoral Supervision is a relationship of trust and transparency, but there are some significant points of difference. In supervision, supervisees reflect specifically about their work and their calling, how they are interacting with it, and how their work is impacting them. Pastoral Supervision explores “the intentional dialogue between soul, role, and context” (Patterson). Such thoughtful reflection helps them learn from their experiences, returning to their work to do it differently (Carroll). Supervision is theologically rich, not so much as a teaching forum, but as a thoughtful context to examine how one’s ministry work actually lines up with one’s beliefs. The intended result is healthier ministry practice – a terrific Gospel outcome.

There are also a few key things which distinguish pastoral supervisors from mentors and coaches:

• Supervisors are required to undergo rigorous training from an accredited institution.
• Supervisors must be accredited members of a recognised professional body, such as the Australian Association of Supervisors (AAOS).
• Supervisors must undertake continuous professional development to retain their accreditation.
• Supervisors must themselves receive regular supervision from an accredited supervisor.

These higher standards help to explain why, compared with mentoring and coaching, only supervision complies with the recommendations of the 2017 Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse (Rec 16.45)

How does the local church benefit?

• Ministers more engaged with their calling
• More sustainable ministry practice
• Better outcomes for local church mission, ministry and those we serve

For more information contact

David Groenenboom, B.D., Grad.Cert.Ed., GCPS, AAOS

Paraklesis Ministries