Clergy, covered family members, and lay conference staff who are enrolled in HealthFlex have options in the Behavioral Health portion of their insurance. HealthFlex has upgraded behavioral health so that they now pay benefits for behavioral health at the same rate they pay for physical health needs (or better).
To find behavioral health professionals in network in your area, login to your Benefits Access account here. Click on "Health", then "Medical and Behavioral Health." That will take you to BCBS of Illinois, our insurance provider. Once there, click on "Doctors and Hospitals", then go through the steps to locate mental health professionals in your area.
Clergy, clergy spouses/family members and lay conference staff who are on HealthFlex also have free sessions through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Whether or not you are covered by HealthFlex, you and/or each of your in-household family members have access to 8 free sessions per year for each issue per year/issue/person. Get a helpful pdf sheet here.
Below is a list of potential concerns.
Stress, anxiety or depression
Marital and family satisfaction
Substance abuse
Conflict resolution at work
Emotional impact of living with a chronic or serious illness, or caring for an ailing family member
Finding child care or elder care in your community
Maintaining boundaries between professional life and personal life
Legal matters, such as wills and adoption
You can access this benefit online, by phone and in-person at no cost to you or your dependents. To access, just call 1-866-881-6800. Or, login to your Virgin Pulse account, click on "Benefits", then type "EAP" in the search bar. "Optum Employee Assistance Program (EAP)" will come up. Click on it to get to the EAP site. From there, you can find providers in your area, get authorized and access the benefits. NOTE: If you fill out the online form for authorization, it may take several days. If you call the 1-866-881-6800 number, you can get immediate authorization. They'll even help you find a nearby provider!
Here's a new feature, just out: You can even connect with a licensed therapist via text message or video chat whenever you need support. Access Talkspace through your EAP benefits. Click here for more information.
If you are not in HealthFlex, it is likely that your health insurance provides some behavioral health coverage. Check your plan. You can also call the Conference Pastoral Counselor. Besides providing counseling, she can also take a look at the insurance you have and guide you in accessing your plan’s mental health benefits and help suggest the right provider in your area. Crossroads Christian Counseling Center in Macon provides quality services on a sliding fee scale. The Pastoral Institute in Columbus can also provide counseling to clergy, clergy families, and congregation members. There are likely similar offices in other parts of the state. We have so many options available to us, in so many ways, there is no reason you should not receive the help you want.
**Questions regarding your general medical health benefit coverage can be answered by the Administrative Services Office at 478-738-0048.
Sabbatical & Retreat Funding
The National Clergy Renewal Program offers grant awards of up to $60,000 to Christian congregations and their pastors to design a Sabbath renewal program that benefits and energizes the pastor and the church for their shared ministry.
Clergy Retreat Options
A clergy retreat is not a work retreat. It is a sacred, slow, creation-touched time. United Methodist clergy are encouraged to go on retreat, not as a luxury, but as a basic spiritual discipline of exceptional value. The online UMCRM Clergy Retreat Directory lists camp/retreat centers across the country that offer free or reduced-cost retreat space for clergy. Below are some additional retreat options.
Retreat Options
Green Bough House of Prayer
As pastors seek to find rest and renewal, sacred spaces like Green Bough House of Prayer have a twofold calling: to live a life of prayer in the world and to provide a place for people to come for prayer and renewal. Rev. Steve Bullington, one of the spiritual directors at Green Bough, says that for people to find renewal at Green Bough, they have to be ready to come, to be open to God, and hungry for God’s presence. Green Bough is where they can step into that space of rhythm and prayer, allowing God to work in simplicity. If you would like to know more about Green Bough House of Prayer or more about spiritual direction and rest, contact Rev. Steve Bullington. Located: Adrian, GA
Epworth By The Sea
Epworth By The Sea is a United Methodist Retreat Center and offers discounts to South Georgia United Methodist clergy. Located: St. Simons Island, GA
The Shepherds Refuge
These servants of the Lord are sponsored by a group of people who care for their well-being:
WinShape offers four-night/five-day retreats for pastors and full-time marriage ministry leaders and their spouses. Located on 26,000 acres of rolling meadows and mountain wilderness in North Georgia, retreats offer a quiet place to reconnect and experience refreshment and renewal. Located: Mount Barry, GA
Beside Still Waters is a program that wishes to bless Gods servants from all areas of the globe, by providing, a place of rest and refocus. This program is not provided to give a free vacation. It is intended for those who are in spiritual need of refreshment in the Lord and who are seeking God’s direction. They define a servant as an experienced pastors, ministers, missionaries, bishops, priests, or rabbis, etc. (Applicant must have three years or more service in good standing.) The townhouses they provide are located on Anna Maria Island, Florida approximately one block from the beach. The use of the unit is donated to your ministry by an anonymous donor. Your ministry MUST provide an IRS determination letter that states they are recognized as a 501(C)3 tax exempt Organization in order to be approved. Located: Bradenton, FL
Ministry couples can become so involved in ministry to others that their personal lives are often neglected. They often miss out on the first part of Matthew 10:8, “Freely you have received...” Galatians 6:6 Retreats are designed to be a time of personal renewal and encouragement for ministry couples. They are one of the ways we hope to live out the calling to "share good things with those who teach." Galatians 6:6 retreats are gifted retreats designed specifically for ministry couples. The cost of the retreat, accommodations, meals and all materials are a gift from co-sponsoring partners. All you have to do is get there! 12,000 ministry couples have enjoyed these life-changing, marriage-enriching, ministry-impacting retreats! Located: Cedar Park, TX