What is pastoral supervision?
“We do not learn from experience …
we learn from reflecting on experience.”
The essence of professional pastoral supervision is taking time out of your usual routine to meet with someone not involved in your day-to-day work, so that you can take a close look at your work and how it impacts you, with a view to serving more effectively.
In recent decades, people in ministry and community work have been engaging with professional supervision designed to address their unique pastoral needs, for the benefit of those they serve. Denominations and Christian organisations are increasingly seeing the value of keeping their staff and clergy in good shape through supervision. In many cases it is mandatory. It may be paid for by the employer or organisation, or by the supervisee themselves.
“Not known, because not looked for
But heard, half-heard, in the stillness.”
A True North supervision session looks like this:
You identify the issue you wish to address (such as a relationship, a decision, a transition, a success or a conflict.)
You identify what you wish to achieve in the session.
3. I will suggest a way for you to reflect on your issue. This could be talking, drawing, writing, working with metaphors, comparing and contrasting or other approaches. I may suggest theological reflection.
4. Through this process you gain clarity and decide on a way forward with your issue.
5. We then talk about what you have learned from the session. Usually your learning will be transferable.
Pastoral supervision has three components, though it is rare for all three to be addressed in one session.
The normative component addresses values, ethics and professional conduct.
The formative component includes skills, knowledge and attitudes relevant to the particular issue at hand.
The restorative component is about the interaction of your role with your soul and your context.
Your first session will be free. If you wish to continue, we will establish a contract, so that both of us are clear on what we expect of one another.
Monthly sessions are recommended for full time staff.
Many denominations mandate eight sessions per annum for full time staff.
Books & resources
- Professional Supervision Guidebook ACSQ
- Burnout Self Test
- Stress performance curve
- Pastoral Supervision Guidebook Sydney Anglicans
- Michael Carroll and Maria C. Gilbert, On Being a Supervisee: creating learning partnerships (2nd edition), Sydney: PsychOz, 2011.
- Jenny Brown, Growing Yourself Up: how to bring your best to all of life’s relationships(2nd edition), Chatswood: Exisle, 2017.
- Podcast: Clergy Wellbeing Down Under with Valerie Ling and guests
