Reflective Supervision is a tool that can help clergy to be attentive to the presence of God and view their ministry through a different lens.
Reflective supervision is a form of pastoral supervision useful as a means for clergy to explore and reflect on the practice of ministry, their calling, and their well-being.
Pioneered by the Methodist Church of Britain, research has demonstrated that reflective supervision: 1) Provides reliable accompaniment that supports the well-being and flourishing of clergy 2) Strengthens boundary awareness and role clarity that supports the safeguarding of everyone in the congregation, and 3) Provides intentional sacred space for discerning what God is saying.
A clergy person (supervisee) covenants to meet with a trained and approved supervisor in a supportive and confidential space. It is a relationship of accompaniment, providing a safe space for reflection and reducing feelings of isolation.
Reflective Supervision is a space to reflect on ministry and is an aid in enhancing the joy and creativity in ministry as well as reducing burnout. Reflective supervision helps clergy:
- Focus on self-care
- Pay attention to spiritual, emotional, financial and physical well-being
- Determine learning needs for their specific context
- Reflect on the challenges of ministry
- Gain insight of role clarity and expectations
- Discover what is already known and forgotten
Meet the Supervisors
Trey Carey
Rev. Dr. Trey Carey is an ordained Elder in the TWKUMC with over 20 years of ministry experience at churches in Tennessee, Alabama, and Oklahoma. He is married to Abbey and they have two children, Lilly Broox and Leo. In his role as pastor, Trey is passionate about encouraging and equipping people of all ages and stages of life to grow in their relationships with Christ and others. In his role as reflective supervisor, he is passionate about walking with people as they reflect on God’s presence, rest in God’s provision, and recognize God’s purpose while reaching their fullest potential in life and ministry.
Sue Engle Carrigan
Rev. Sue Engle Carrigan is a second career pastor serving First United Methodist Church, in Fulton, KY. She spent the first part of her life in accounting and transitioned into full-time ministry over the last 18 years. Sue is a newlywed after the loss of her husband of 40 years. She is the mom to three, and a grandmother to five with more on the way. She loves to read, take long walks, and spend time with friends and family. Sue began reflective supervision as part of an earlier pilot process offered by the GBHEM. She was in a new appointment and found the opportunity to talk through challenges to be so helpful that she took the opportunity to become a trained supervisor. Working with others in the process has been a blessing as the process allows for God to speak in a sacred space.
LeNoir Culbertson
Rev. Dr. LeNoir H. Culbertson is retired from full time ministry after 40 + years of service in a multi-church charge, as a hospital chaplain, as lead pastor in small, medium and large membership churches and as a District Superintendent. She has a great passion for walking with people as they seek to honor their God given callings in faithful and fruitful ways throughout all of life’s seasons. She has experienced Reflective Supervision to be very Wesleyan in its capacity to undergird those on the journey to experience both being held by grace and held accountable within a trustworthy covenant community.
Heather Harriss
Heather currently serves as the pastor for Spiritual Care and Connection at Belmont UMC in Nashville. Her ministry focuses on creating and sharing spaces and practices that help people feel more connected to God, to their neighbor and to their own soul. She has found the model for Reflective Supervision to be helpful in navigating the complexities of a life in ministry. Reflective Supervision provides a safe space to explore the things that are making your ministry difficult and with the help of the Holy Spirit to discern strategies and next steps for healing and growth.
Sarah McWhirt-Toler
Rev. Sarah McWhirt-Toler is an ordained deacon currently serving as an associate pastor at Connell Memorial United Methodist Church in Goodlettsville, TN. Previously, Sarah taught preK-4th grade Bible and led chapel services at an independent school in the Nashville area. As a clergyperson, mother and spouse, Sarah is particularly passionate about walking alongside clergy who emotionally, spiritually and physically support others. For Sarah, experiencing supervision has been a way to prioritize her own well-being and success, and she is eager to offer this support to others as a holy and life-giving affirmation of their vocation through reflective supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Reflective Supervision?
Reflective Supervision is a 90-minute session with a trained “Supervisor” who creates space for you to regularly step out of the flow to catch your breath, reflect on and strategize around some aspect of your work as a minister and its impact on you and those with whom you work.
Why is it called Reflective Supervision?
This is supervision, not in the sense of your being evaluated, but as a connection provided place of support and accountability for your development, safety, and well-being, and that of those with whom you work.
What is Reflective Supervision like?
Every six to eight weeks you’ll meet with a person trained for 90 minutes to help you reflect on an issue that you bring from your ministry on which you’d value some help in exploring. Examples of the kinds questions you might explore together:
- How can I best deal with this challenging situation?
- What do I need to do to prepare for an upcoming event?
- How can I deal more effectively with administrative tasks?
- How do I manage conflicting expectations?
Your reflective supervision will help you narrow down what you want from the conversation and provide processes for you to receive deepened insights and next steps for your selected issue.
Is this a confidential conversation?
As Reflective Supervision sessions close, together the supervisor and supervisee will create an “agreed record” of the conversation that notes the main topic (ex: Sally explored how to establish a working relationship with her new SPRC chair), any significant risks (e.g burnout, communication breakdown, financial or legal risks and steps to be taken), and any referrals that require action. A copy of this record, and only this record, goes to the person with primary oversight responsibilities for your ministry, typically your district superintendent. The agreed record allows for confidential conversation, while providing the person with oversight responsibility for your ministry with the information they need to help them fulfill their responsibilities to you and to the greater system.
How is Reflective Supervision different from coaching?
Coaching and reflective supervision can feel similar. But where coaching has a tight focus on making measurable progress towards a defined goal in some aspect of your ministry across time, reflective supervision has the broad focus of your ministry in general and a greater emphasis on surfacing the insights that then lead to next steps and wholistic development as a ministry practitioner.
Who are the supervisors?
The supervisors are active and retired clergy and laypersons active in the United Methodist Church who have received training to be a supervisor. Read their bios above.
Are Reflective Supervision sessions in-person or by Zoom?
You would negotiate this with your supervisor. In-person sessions may not be possible because of the geography of the Conference and the location of the supervisors.
What is expected of me?
You would commit to six 90-minute sessions over 10-12 months and preparation before each session. Preparation means prayerful consideration of what issue or focus you will bring to the reflective supervision session.
How do I sign up for Reflective Supervision?
You can register Reflective Supervision itself here. You will be matched with a supervisor shortly after registering.
How much will it cost?
At this time, for this initial pilot in the TWK Conference, there is no cost for participating. If you would prefer to receive supervision from a supervisor outside of the Conference, typically the cost is approximately $900 for 6 sessions over 12 months.
May I use continuing education funds the church has budgeted?
Yes. You are encouraged to share with your Staff Parish Relations Committee that you are in Reflective Supervision.
Who may I contact for more information?
If you have any questions, contact Courtney Lawson, Director of Connectional Ministries.
Reflective Supervision Registration
Reflective supervision is a supportive, confidential space for reflection on ministry. As you register, you may choose to indicate a preference for whom your supervisor will be, although we cannot guarantee ones you prefer will be able to add additional persons. You will not be matched with someone you prefer not to work with.
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