Articles & News
Get the latest news plus articles on resilience, community, calling and more.
Articles are written by Center staff, program participants, friends, and faculty of The Seattle School.
Mental Health and Pastoral Care: Knowing the Boundaries
The role of pastor as caregiver has deep biblical roots, but providing pastoral care does not mean one is qualified to address every aspect of human suffering.
What Does It Mean to Follow Jesus in a Divided America?
We are living in a cultural moment where identity is often defined in opposition to others, and the temptation is strong to align our faith with our tribe.
A Pastor’s Practical Checklist for How to Lead “Hot” Conversations
In today's polarized climate, political alignment has become a prerequisite for relationship, and nowhere is this more devastating than in faith communities. Church leaders can often find themselves navigating conversations that feel like walking through a minefield....
Is the Church Good for Your Mental Health?
Is Church Good for Your Mental Health? Part 2 in the Mental Health and Ministry Series I know what you're thinking. You clicked on this article expecting me to tear apart the church's abysmal track record on mental health. Sure, there's plenty to critique there, but...
Creating Theological Frameworks Inside of Community Conversations
In today’s polarized times, political alignment is often a prerequisite for relationship, and nowhere is this more devastating than in faith communities.
Does Trusting Jesus Really Mean We Need to Limit Access to Mental Health Care?
Many Christians feel forced to choose between faith and mental health care. Church leaders: You need to step up and challenge this false idea and lead your community toward wholeness.
Searching for Sacred Sparks: Help us find communities and preachers lighting the way
The Center for Transforming Engagement is launching a research project to explore what makes preaching meaningful today. Do you know a preacher or Christian faith community doing something remarkable with scripture? We are interested in them even if they go beyond typical models.
Faith in Action: Responding to Injustice
As a church or ministry leader, you stand at a pivotal moment in history. The challenges facing our communities, including racial injustice, economic inequality, environmental degradation, and the marginalization of vulnerable populations, demand more than passive concern. They require the transformative power of faith in action.
Resilience Research – Learning from The Camino de Santiago
In Fall 2024 and again in Spring 2025, Kate Rae Davis walked the famed Camino de Santiago as she faced a very personal journey with burnout. This series of pilgrimage paths attracts nearly 500,000 people each year who walk at least 100 km (62 miles), with many walking...
Why Leadership Development Isn’t Optional for Ministry Leaders
Leadership development isn’t a modern business concept imported into ministry—it’s deeply biblical and the biblical pattern is clear: effective ministry leadership requires both calling and cultivation.