Consultant, Clergy Wellness & Pastoral Care

GENERAL BOARD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AND MINISTRY THE UNITED ME•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The United Methodist Endorsing Agency (UMEA), part of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), seeks an experienced consultant to advise and support efforts to strengthen the spiritual, emotional, and professional well-being of clergy endorsed for specialized ministries. Working collaboratively with the UMEA Director, the consultant will assess existing care initiatives, develop scalable support strategies, provide training and educational resources, and recommend best practices for sustaining healthy and effective ministry. The consultant will provide strategic consultation, including regular direct contact with endorsed clergy, recommendations for support programs, and frameworks for outreach and assessing clergy support needs. The role may also provide one-on-one pastoral care to members of the endorsed community when warranted and in consultation with the UMEA Director. The consultant will develop and facilitate virtual and in-person support groups, workshops, and cohort-based learning opportunities. They will assist with retreats, conferences, and continuing education offerings that promote spiritual renewal and personal well-being, and advise the UMEA Director on clergy wellness, pastoral care, and organizational support strategies. The consultant will review clergy feedback, annual reports, and wellness indicators to identify emerging needs and opportunities for intervention. Deliverables include a strategic assessment of existing clergy care programs; written recommendations and an implementation roadmap; a resource library and training materials; facilitated workshops and/or cohort sessions; periodic progress and trend reports; and a final report summarizing outcomes, recommendations, and future opportunities. Applications should include a cover letter, resume/CV, digitally signed employment application, three references (two supervisory and one professional), and the applicant’s potential start date. Applications are submitted through the applicant portal. Priority review will be given to applications received before November 20, 2026. The organization aims to fill the position as soon as possible.

Requirements

Advanced degree in theology, pastoral care, counseling, social work, psychology, organizational leadership, or a related field.
Experience in chaplaincy, specialized ministry, clergy care, military ministry, healthcare ministry, or institutional settings.
Demonstrated expertise in clergy wellness, burnout prevention, trauma-informed care, and moral injury.
Experience designing and facilitating educational programs, support groups, retreats, and leadership development initiatives.
Strong consulting, assessment, and strategic planning skills.
Exceptional written communication, facilitation, and relationship-building abilities.

Nice To Haves

Familiarity and experience with The United Methodist Church structure and endorsement processes.

Responsibilities

Assess current UMEA clergy wellness through regular direct contact with endorsed clergy.
Build support programs and recommend enhancements to strengthen clergy resilience, engagement, and vocational sustainability.
Provide one-on-one pastoral care to individuals in the endorsed community when warranted and in consultation with the UMEA Director.
Design and recommend frameworks for clergy wellness outreach, including tools, protocols, and assessment methods to identify support needs.
Develop and facilitate virtual and in-person support groups, workshops, and cohort-based learning opportunities focused on clergy wellness, resilience, and vocational longevity.
Assist in planning retreats, conferences, and continuing education offerings that promote spiritual renewal and personal well-being.
Advise the UMEA Director as a subject matter expert on clergy wellness, pastoral care practices, and organizational support strategies.
Provide periodic reports summarizing findings, trends, recommendations, and opportunities for future program development.
Review aggregate clergy feedback, annual reports, and wellness indicators to identify emerging needs and opportunities for intervention.
Provide a strategic assessment, implementation roadmap, resource library and training materials, facilitated sessions, progress and trend reports, and a final outcomes report.