Clergy & Congregation Care Program

Mission Statement

The Clergy and Congregation Care Program, in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute and the Samaritan Institute, works to promote effective and transformational ministries within religious communities in western Pennsylvania. With a spirit of respect for the uniqueness of each community, this service-oriented program supports laity and leaders to enhance the strength and health of their congregations.


Clergy & Congregation Care from PPI

It is clear that these are critical times for clergy and the congregations they serve. Jack Carroll, director of Pulpit & Pew, an extensive project funded by the Lilly Endowment, offers the following reasons:

Parish ministry is undergoing major change. Clergy and laity roles are shifting, women are joining the ranks of ordained clergy, not enough clergy are willing to serve small and mostly rural congregations, fewer young seminary students are entering parish ministry, clergy moral failures have become visible headline news, and social esteem for clergy has dropped.

Special interest groups are gaining influence and as they do, congregational conflict mounts, making conflict mediation an essential skill for parish clergy.

Overall clergy view themselves being in good physical health, but mainline Protestants score lowest on positive feelings and energy. Lower measures of health are found among the clergy voicing loneliness and isolation, difficulty having a private life outside of the congregational “fishbowl”, disagreements with their congregation, lack of time for relaxation and being with family, and spousal resentment of time demands and salary.

Research helps us understand how to increase the effectiveness of clergy and congregations in bringing ministries of transformation to meet the challenges of today’s world:

The most effective leadership style (as judged by both laity and clergy) is proactive collaboration between clergy and their congregations. This style correlates with a good match between the pastor and the congregation and relatively low conflict. Both extremes – passive leadership and overly active leadership – tend to correlate with increased conflict and poor match.

Excellent ministry embodies resilience: what Carroll describes as “touch elasticity”, born out of regular spiritual practice. Other qualities of excellent ministry include flexible and reflective leadership, lifelong learning, cultivating collegial and personal relationships, maintaining appropriate boundaries between personal/family life and work, monitoring physical and emotional self-care, and optimism.

How can clergy and congregations bring the deep resources of faith to these critical times? Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute, in partnership with the Samaritan Institute, is committed to making a difference in Western Pennsylvania by offering new services for clergy and congregation care, including:

Clergy Consultation Groups

Gatherings of six to twelve clergy persons meeting monthly to focus on their pastoral work in a context of peer support, reflection and consultation.

Care for Clergy & their Families

Individual and family counseling and education dealing with the stresses and changes in family life, promoting self care and marital and family health.

Consultation for Congregations in Transition & Conflict

Short-term and long-term interventions to assess congregational conflicts and transitions and plan for constructive change.

Coaching & Consultation for Church Staffs & Governing Boards

Helping church leaders cope with and grow through conflict, change, and developmental transitions.

Clergy Assessments

Using psychological testing and interviewing to assess and guide candidates for ministry and to identify and develop leadership skills and competencies.

Educational Events

Carefully designed participatory learning ventures for congregational and judicatory groups organized around such topics as strategic planning, staff and board development, spiritual enrichment and layperson training.

Clergy and Congregation Care Advisory Council

PPI is forming an Advisory Council of interested pastors and others involved in ministry. The purpose of the advisory council is to strengthen, better publicize, and expand our existing services and to develop additional resources that will benefit both clergy and congregations as, together, they seek to bring the deep resources of faith to these critical times. This advisory council will meet quarterly. There is no financial commitment. We very much, however, need your time, wisdom, advice, encouragement, and creativity. If you are a pastor or in interested in this additional level of participation in the life and ministry of PPI—or at least in learning more about it (with no further commitment required)—you are cordially invited to our upcoming luncheon. Please see our Events Page for further details.

For more information contact:

Joanne Bassilios, Clinical Director
412-661-1239 ext. 43

Randy Hoedeman, Executive Director
412-661-1239 ext. 14

Michelle Snyder, Mental Health Therapist
412-661-1239 ext. 51


Denver Samaritan Logo Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute Phone: 412-661-1239 or Toll Free 1-877-661-9623 PPI Logo
6324 Marchand Street Fax: 412-661-1304
Pittsburgh, PA 15206