On RUOk? Day Archbishop Jeremy Greaves has written to Brisbane clergy with encouragement to move toward two full days of rest per week allowed by canons.
Dear All,
Today is R U OK? Day.
In 2024, R U OK? is calling on everyone to Ask R U OK? Any Day because life happens every day. The reminder to ask R U OK? comes as the Suicide Prevention Australia Community Tracker shows that 72% of Australians reported experiencing elevated levels of distress in the latest June data. R U OK? encourages Australians to check in will others all year around. Recent research commissioned by R U OK? found that people who are regularly asked if they are okay feel more supported, connected and cared about.
Today comes as a timely reminder of the importance of mental and emotional well-being in our lives and ministries. With the increasing challenges for the church in this season, I know the pressure felt by clergy and others in every part of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: increased compliance and governance, increased administration, more conflict and greater uncertainty all layer more pressure on people already working to capacity.
In my Synod address earlier this year, I reminded people that there are no Canons insisting that Clergy have only one day off. I wonder what you are doing, along with Wardens or Parish Councils to begin to re-shape things so that you might have two full days of rest each week? This will necessarily involve changing some expectations (self expectations as well as the expectation of some people within the parish or ministry unit), and this might take some time. However, we can all do something.
For myself, I have been trialling the “Boomerang” extension for Outlook. It allows you to ‘pause’ your inbox for periods of time, which means even if you are a compulsive email checker (like me) there will be no new emails in your inbox until the inbox is un-paused. I have also started to make a habit of putting my phone on “airplane mode” when I’m out for my daily walk with Paddy – it means it doesn’t ring for the whole 90 minutes of my walk, but I still have it if there’s an emergency. They are small things but they do make a difference for me.
What things might you try?
The other thing we can all do is look out for each other and today, I encourage you to reach out to a colleague or friend who you may not have spoken to for a while – ask them how they’re really doing and be ready to listen… even better over a coffee or a drink. I know from my own difficult moments that sometimes these simple conversations can make a profound difference.
Remember, you are not alone in your work. Your well-being is essential to the ministry you provide, and there are always people ready to offer support when you need it.
Thank you for all that you are doing: I know how hard it is.
Please look after yourselves and reach out to one another to support your colleagues.
Be assured of my prayers day by day.
+Jeremy
Archbishop of Brisbane
12.9.2024
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