Clergy Information
What is Spiritual Direction?
Q. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words.
Q. What is Christian Prayer?
A. Christian prayer is response to God the Father, through Jesus Christ, in the power of the Holy Spirit. (bcp)
Spiritual Direction
As a person matures in the Christian faith so does their prayer life and having a person who listens and guides can be very constructive.
The Henri Nouwen Society defines it this way:
“Spiritual Direction is the simple gift of offering to another the gentle but tenacious encouragement to open fully to God’s loving presence, and to discern the action of the Spirit in every aspect of life. This encouragement comes from a “spiritual director,” a person who has long and deep experience in living a spiritual life.”
Below is the definition offered by the Shalom Institute:
Spiritual Direction is sometimes referred to as spiritual guidance or spiritual friendship, is an ongoing relationship in which one person (the directee), desirous of being attentive to his or her spiritual life, meets with another person (the director) on a regular basis (approximately once a month), specifically for the purpose of becoming more attuned to God's Presence in order to respond more fully to that Presence in all of life.
The primary focus of the session is the directee's relationship with God as it is reflected and challenged by all aspects of that person's life.
The directee assumes responsibility for his or her life with God. This means that the person coming for direction is trying to be serious about some form of intentional prayer and reflection on the God-currents of everyday life and prayer. During the meeting of about one hour, director and directee seek to enter a prayerful atmosphere where together they can be attentive to the Holy Spirit who is in fact the Real Director.
Asking your clergy person or friends is the best place to start looking for a spiritual director, or you may follow one of the below links.
http://www.sdiworld.org/
www.shalem.org/
www.henrinouwen.org
2010 Clergy Compensation Guidelines
Resolved, that the minimum standard of full-time pension-based compensation (cash salary, utilities, housing, and Social Security tax reimbursement) for clergy serving congregations in the Diocese of Ohio during 2010 be established as follows:
- At least $45,000 for assisting clergy ordained less than three years;
- At least $48,500 for clergy ordained less than three years, who are in charge of congregations and assisting clergy ordained more than three years;
- At least $55,000 for clergy in charge of congregations with an annual Normal Operating Income (NOI) of no more than 180,000;
- At least $55,000 + 10% of NOI greater than $180,000 up to $360,000, for clergy in charge of congregations with an annual NOI greater than $180,000;
- At least $73,000 for clergy in charge of congregations with NOI greater than $360,000; and be it further
Resolved, that in addition to the above minimum standard, it is understood that each employer of clergy in the Diocese of Ohio shall:
- Make pension assessment payments as the Church Pension Fund shall determine;
- At minimum, provide to clergy and eligible dependents full funding for the least expensive medical insurance plan offered through the diocese in the area where the clergy person resides, or an amount equivalent to cost of the least expensive plan offered through the diocese toward a more expensive option. If the parish offers medical insurance coverage directly, and not through the diocese, the benefits must equal those provided by the least expensive plan available through the diocese.
- Provide appropriate reimbursement for expenses incurred in the course of fulfilling the responsibilities of the position, including the actual cost of the use of a personal automobile;
- Allow no fewer than four weeks of paid vacation annually;
- Allow annual professional education/development leave, of no fewer than two weeks, with a minimum allowance of $750, and be it further
Resolved, that each employer of clergy in the Diocese of Ohio be encouraged to:
- Offer additional benefits either fully funded, or on a pre-tax salary reduction basis (e.g., dental insurance, reimbursement for routine dental care, annual medical examination, child-care allowance, etc.); provide for sabbatical and parental leave; and be it finally
Resolved, that the provisions of this resolution be applied on a pro-rata basis to the minimum compensation and benefits related to positions that are less than full-time and more than one-quarter time.
Clergy Manual
The Clergy Manual is a resource developed by the Christian Vocations Office that answers many of the commonly asked questions and links to resources for clergy in the diocese, or thinking of coming to this diocese.
If you don't find your question answered here, feel free to contact the Christian Vocations Office.
Open Clergy Positions
Last Updated on August 24, 2011
To inquire about any of the positions listed below, please contact the Office of Christian Vocations at (216) 774-0460, or in Ohio at (800) 551-4815 x460. E-mail inquiries may be sent to the Rev. Percy Grant ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ).
Supply Clergy List
Last Updated on April 17, 2012
The following clergy may be available to serve as supply clergy when they are not otherwise engaged.
