Healthy Living Covenant
Pastors in the Alliance promise to stay healthy in their living. They make a plan to invest in their relationship with the Lord. They express how they will nurture relationships with their inner circle of friends and family. They detail how they are going to relate to self, both with physical and psychological health.
The theme that hits me with all this is the word abide. As John 15:5 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing” (NRSV). Before any expectation to produce, pastors in the Alliance are expected to abide in Jesus, and so live in true health.
I’m reminded of Robert Mulholland’s definition of spiritual formation: “the process of being conformed to the image of Christ for the sake of others.”
Let’s let that soak in. Spiritual formation isn’t about piling more tasks onto our already overflowing schedules. It’s about cultivating a deeper, more vibrant relationship with God—a relationship from which our actions naturally flow. Our doing is the outgrowth of our being.
And let’s not miss the end of Mulholland’s quote: for the sake of others. Formation isn’t a self-centered inward spiral. It’s about developing roots in Christ so that we can bear meaningful fruit within our families, our congregations, our communities. The more intentional we are in our walk with Christ, the more faithfully we can model for those we love and lead.
As ministry leaders, we carry a special responsibility: to care for our own emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. Without this inner work, eventually our outer work begins to unravel. That’s why the Healthy Living Covenant needs to be in place. By insisting on health in our relationships with the Lord, with our inner circle, and even with ourselves, we are held accountable in abiding.
In a real sense, spiritual formation practices are built right into the pastor’s job description. This commitment isn’t a burden – it’s a gift!
The Healthy Living Covenant isn’t really a checklist, then. It’s an invitation. A foundation. A safeguard. It sets us up for meaningful ministry. It sets us up for healthy boundaries and a grounded life with our eternally loving God. It equips us to serve well and finish well—no matter how many years are still ahead. It is a promise that prepares us for the long haul.
May we be faithful in this inner journey—so that our outer lives overflow with grace and fruitfulness.
Rev. Lin Van Hofwegen serves as Associate Director of Spiritual Care (chaplain) at Dow Rummel Village, a retirement community, and is also a certified spiritual director.