Establishing Healthy Boundaries in Ministry

In this 10 minute training video my friend Chip Judd explains how to establish healthy boundaries in ministry. Have someone you're mentoring watch the video and then follow the process below to reinforce the principles.  Or you may want to use it with your team.Chip is a professional counselor who has been counseling individuals, marriages, and families for almost twenty years. His driving desire in is to see people experience and enjoy real freedom and lasting change.  To learn more about Chip go to www.chipjudd.com or follow him on Twitter @chipjudd.All Staff 03/09 - Boundaries, by Chip Judd from Seacoast Church on Vimeo.

EXPLORE

Watch: Chip Judd's video discussion on boundaries in ministry.Journal: Think through the following questions and write your answers in a journal and be prepared to discuss these with your mentor.

1. Write down two or three things that stood out to you the most from Chips teaching?
2. Where do you have the most difficult time setting healthy boundaries? Personal life, relationship, Work, Spiritual life.
3. Rate yourself on how easy or hard it is to say “no”. (1 – easy; 10 – hard) Explain your answer.
4. Are there things you’re allowing inside your “circle” that is not your responsibility?
5. Do you have any feelings of resentment toward anyone because you have allowed them to violate your boundaries?
6. What makes it so difficult to set healthy boundaries in ministry?

EXPERIENCE

Do the following activities to reinforce what you are learning about healthy boundaries.Assess: In a journal write out a "Stop Doing" list.  Also look at your current job description and evaluate how well it matches what you are actually doing.  Write down adjustments you need to make.  Ask to meet and discuss this with your supervisor.Practice:  Practice saying “NO”. Not for selfish reasons but for self–care and honesty. Monitor how easy, hard, successful or unsuccessful you are by keeping a journal of when you said “No”; how it felt when you said “No”; and what did you learn from saying “No”?Plan:  Take 30 minutes to plan your week ahead of time. Decide ahead of time what you will say “Yes” to and what you will say “No” to. Use Microsoft Outlook or your daytimer to chart how you will spend your time this week.  Don't forget to schedule family time.

EVALUATE

Meet with your mentor or team to discuss the following questions:

1. Where do you have the most difficult time setting healthy boundaries? Personal life, relationship? Work? Spiritual life? Your spiritual life? Your relationships? Your work life?
2. Rate yourself on how easy or hard it is to say “no”. (1 – easy; 10 – hard) Explain your answer.
3. What stood out to you the most from Chips teaching?
4. How did you do with the "Experiences" above? Was it helpful? What did you learn?
5. What are 3 or 4 principles that can help people establish healthy boundaries?