Church Worker Wellness

The Nebraska District endeavors to provide church workers with the information they need to make the most of Concordia Plan Services, and their Be Well…Serve Well and Vitality Wellness programs. For more information on those programs, please contact Joyce Bruha at joyceb@ndlcms.org or 402-643-2961, extension 1011.

Through the Concordia Health Plan church workers have access to wellness programs designed to help conquer health challenges and lead a healthier lifestyle. Visit My Physical Wellness. Not sure which program is right for you? Use the Health Connector tool to help find the best solution for what you need right now.

Concordia Plan Services also has a YouTube channel with a variety of tutorial videos related to healthcare services, retirement planning, and the other services they provide. You can access that channel by clicking here.

An archive of Financial Wellness webinars is available from Concordia Plan Services at this link.

 Information on Concordia Plan Services and the Vitality Wellness Program can be found on the CPS website.

LCMS Soldiers of the Cross offers temporary financial assistance for: LCMS-rostered ordained or commissioned ministers; Surviving spouses of retired LCMS-rostered ordained or commissioned ministers; Non-rostered (lay) LCMS district, church, school or RSO employees; Church workers from partner churches who are residing in the U.S. 

Eligibility: LCMS-rostered ordained or commissioned ministers; Surviving spouses of retired LCMS-rostered ordained or commissioned ministers; Non-rostered (lay) LCMS district, church, school or RSO employees; Church workers from partner churches who are residing in the U.S.

Criteria: Soldiers of the Cross (SOC) is the grant program through which the LCMS may respond to a financial crisis that arises unexpectedly in a church worker’s life. SOC grants are for a situation in which the short-term financial help requested will demonstrably help to alleviate the immediate crisis. Funds provide only short-term assistance, usually to cover a period of 30–90 days. The following are examples, but do not limit the application of aid to other situations: Health or medical crisis; Counseling; Financial incapacity of a church congregation or organization to pay her workers; Transition relating to employment or family crisis; Legal situation; Traumatic event

VISIT THE SYNOD WEBSITE for details and applications.

Concordia Plans members can access resources to help care for their mental health, helping them and those they love be healthier and happier. They also offer resources specifically for pastors. Visit My Mental Health for more information.

Regardless of whether you are a Concordia Plan Services member or enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan, you have access to mental health resources as a member of the LCMS community. Learn more at the Concordia Plan Services Mental Health Resources page.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is designed to help members and dependents cope with stress, depression, marital difficulties, and a variety of other work, family, and life issues. All EAP services are free and confidential to covered members of the CHP and can be accessed 24/7 at cignabehavioral.com or 866-726-5267.

Church workers in need of refreshment are encouraged to consider retreats and counseling offered through our ministry partners. Regardless of whether you are a Concordia Plan Services member or enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan, you have access to mental health resources as a member of the LCMS community. Learn more at the Concordia Plan Services Mental Health Resources page.

GracePoint Institute for Relational Health

GracePoint’s vision is to promote mental, spiritual, emotional, and ultimately relational health and healing in those who seek to utilize our counseling services. They provide therapists who are among the most trained, in both theology and mental health, the incarnational embodiment of our values, and above all, who provide our clients with a safe context in which to experience the Grace of their everlasting Father.

Regardless of whether you are a Concordia Plan Services member or enrolled in the Concordia Health Plan, you have access to mental health resources as a member of the LCMS community. Learn more at the Concordia Plan Services Mental Health Resources page.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is designed to help members and dependents cope with stress, depression, marital difficulties, and a variety of other work, family, and life issues. All EAP services are free and confidential to covered members of the CHP and can be accessed 24/7 at cignabehavioral.com or 866-726-5267.

The PSN, or Pastoral Support Network, is an EAP specifically designed for ordained pastors and those that live in a pastor’s home. The Pastoral Support Network is free and confidential to all ordained ministers and those that live in an ordained pastor’s home (regardless of enrollment in the Concordia Plans) and can be reached at 888-712-1805.

Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat Ministries

Shepherd’s Canyon Retreat is a specialized counseling ministry for wounded professional church workers and their spouses (singles are welcome too).

Grace Place Wellness Ministries

Grace Place Wellness Ministries believes that if workers are not joyful, vigorous and balanced in their own body, mind and spirit, they cannot effectively and abundantly serve the people placed in their care. Healthy leaders lead healthy congregations and healthy congregations encourage and support healthy leaders. When Pastor and people are together experiencing life in the body of Christ the way the Lord has intended it (see Ephesians 4), God is glorified and congregations fulfill their calling to share the saving love of Jesus. Grace Place ministries also has special offerings and resources for ministry wives.

Doxology: The Lutheran Center for Spiritual Care and Counsel

DOXOLOGY offers an innovative program of advanced study retreats to strengthen pastors for the task of faithfully shepherding the souls entrusted to their care.

Ministry Sabbatical Resources

Through Ministry Sabbatical Resources, Rev. Timothy Fangmeier (who formerly worked with the Wheat Ridge Ministries Ministry Sabbatical Grants program) and Rev. Arthur Umbach are available to assist ministry leaders and churches in the formation of sabbatical guidelines, plans and funding issues. As coaches, they provide guidance around planning a sabbatical that fosters a true sense of renewal and health.

Marriage in Ministry (M ‘n M) retreats are intended to encourage and strengthen marriages in ministry and are designed to be attended in sequence. They are led by Rev. Dr. Justin Hannemann of GracePoint Institute for Relational Health. The retreats will focus on fostering secure marital attachment, emotional health, and rupture repair, with special attention paid to the unique challenges of the ministerial context.

There are several elements that make these retreats unique. Prior to the first retreat, participants will be encouraged to complete some brief assessments. Those assessments will be discussed with each pair and a couple focused growth plan will be presented at the retreat. In addition, participants will have access to up to 3 couple counseling sessions with Justin and the GracePoint staff in the time between the first and second retreat. The second retreat will serve as a “book end” and an opportunity to reflect on and consolidate the growth attained since the first retreat. This is not intended to be a “one and done” experience. This model is intended to encourage and strengthen healthy couples and provide an opportunity for transformation and growth for distressed couples. It is highly encouraged that you commit to attending both retreats. Childcare is not provided.

Please email joyceb@ndlcms.org with questions.

Visit our Church Worker Debt page for information on grants and tools to assist with your student debt load.