Ingrid Friesen Moser encourages congregations to prioritize tangible actions that nurture their pastor’s wellbeing.
Ingrid Friesen Moser, MA, RDN, is the wellness coordinator for The Corinthian Plan, MC USA’s health plan for pastors and church workers. In addition, she works with children and adults at Maple City Health Care Center in Goshen, Indiana. Her degrees in nutrition (Goshen College) and Christian formation (AMBS) reflect her passion for the intersection of health and wellness with spiritual disciplines.
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Many of us are wondering what the rising cost of living, including health care costs, will do to our personal and church budgets. If you read the August 2025 Menno Snapshots blog written by Duncan Smith, director of The Corinthian Plan, about the “perfect storm” we are facing in rising health care costs this renewal season, you know there are real reasons to be concerned.
The financial ways we support our lives and the lives of those that serve us, such as pastors and church workers, are a challenge for many, perhaps even most.
If you are facing tough decisions about what to keep and what to cut in your personal life or your congregation, you are not alone. Tough times force us to make sacrifices and let go. Yet they can also invite us to think creatively about who we are and to sharpen our focus on what we truly value.
As we navigate these challenges, we are reminded of the words of the Apostle Paul:
“Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.”
— 1 Timothy 5:17
If budget cuts are needed at home or church, words like evaluate, downsize and simplify come to mind. Yet it is worth remembering these actions themselves don’t diminish joy, connection, appreciation or life’s meaning; at times, they can even enrich them.
If budget shortfalls at church mean you can’t provide recommended salary increases or must adjust health insurance costs for your pastor and church staff, consider the creative ways you can still communicate care and appreciation.
One simple tool is The Corinthian Plan Pastor Wellbeing Checklist. The 2025 updated version offers your congregation a chance to reflect on and prioritize tangible actions that nurture your pastor’s wellbeing – spiritually, emotionally and physically.
As Paul also reminds us, “Encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:11
A note, a prayer, a small gesture of kindness — it won’t pay the bills, but it will lift a spirit. Maybe even yours.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog belong to the author and are not intended to represent the views of the MC USA Executive Board or staff.