On Sustainable Ministry: Margaret Marcuson on How to Lead and When to Nap

In this episode, Lorenzo Lebrija interviews Margaret Marcuson about sustainable ministry, the importance of setting boundaries, self-care, and managing burnout in church leadership. They explore practical strategies for clergy to lead healthier, more balanced lives while fulfilling their calling.

Margaret Marcuson helps clergy get lighter and less burdened by their ministry so they can have more influence with less stress. She works with leaders from over 20 denominations across North America as teacher and coach. She is the author of Leaders who Last (2009)and Money and Your Ministry (2014). She has taught since 1999 in Leadership in Ministry, a family systems workshop for clergy. An American Baptist minister, she served as pastor at First Baptist Church, Gardner, MA for 13 years. She lives in Portland, OR, where she sings in two choirs. Check out her new book, Sustainable Ministry: How to Lead (and When to Nap).

Links:

New book available now: Sustainable Ministry

Get a checklist for sustainable ministry: margaretmarcuson.com

Key Topics:

• Burnout and over-functioning in ministry
• Setting healthy boundaries without abandoning calling
• The role of spiritual practices in self-care
• Family systems and their impact on leadership
• Strategies for clergy to manage stress and expectations

Keywords:

ministry, clergy burnout, self-care, boundaries, leadership, church, spiritual practice, family systems, over-functioning, sustainable leadership