The Church Continues to Fail Its Leaders and Pastors
So many pastors and church leaders are exhausted and depleted while carrying so much for their congregants.
They care for others well but often ignore the needs and desires of their own bodies, minds, and souls.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
1:1 spiritual direction is not magic but it can feel magical because my clients have permission to be honest & authentic with themselves & God for 50 whole minutes.
If you want sacred time and space to care for your own weary soul instead of worrying about everyone else’s, 1:1 spiritual direction might be a great fit for you.
Over the past eight years I’ve helped dozens of pastors and church staff from a variety of backgrounds and denominations discover how to better nourish their bodies, minds, and souls.
Here are some reasons why I’m good at this work:
1. I listen well and ask good questions (as all trained spiritual directors do)
2. with all my clients—but especially with pastors and church staff—confidentiality is of paramount importance
(I don’t take notes and I have ADHD so it really is all about inhabiting the present moment during my spiritual direction sessions which makes confidentiality super easy for me!)
3. In addition to language around God and the divine, I incorporate a framework of belonging to help my clients have a fresh perspective on their work, creativity, and relationships that helps them move toward greater connection
4. Near the end of each 1:1 spiritual direction session, I recommend strategies and practices for greater wellbeing that are customized to each individual’s desires, needs, and season of life
5. And I invite my clients to have more artful encounters because engaging with art makes everything better
in addition to the more traditional spiritual practices that can be helpful and effective, I also recommend things like:
😭cry more often
🛌take more naps
📺watch a great TV show
🫖have a cup of tea in silence each afternoon
🖼️honor your creativity and make some art
None of my recommendations or suggestions are mandatory because we’re too old for that.
I trust God and you to work out all of your nourishing rhythms & spiritual practices in your own perfect timing.
Let me know if you want to set up a complementary 15-minute conversation to learn more and/or send this post to any church people who seem drained & in need of extra soul support.
💚Charlotte
Charlotte Donlon is a writer, spiritual director, and gatherer whose work centers on helping people explore themes of belonging through art, spiritual growth, and how to Flourish Anyway™, even when life is full, busy, or chaotic. Her work has woven together themes of belonging, art, and soul exploration for more than 25 years. With a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing (2015-2018) and a certificate in spiritual direction (2018-2020), Charlotte guides writers and other creative souls in fostering sanctuaries of acceptance and connection—her approach warmly welcomes people from all backgrounds, regardless of faith tradition or spiritual inclinations.
A Christian in the Episcopal church who believes the tenets of the Nicene Creed, Charlotte employs a universal framework of belonging and connection in her spiritual direction work that’s welcoming to all and fosters meaningful, soulful conversations.
In 2020, Broadleaf Books published Charlotte's first book, The Great Belonging: How Loneliness Leads Us to Each Other. Her book, Spiritual Direction for Writers, is slated for release by Eerdmans in September 2026.
As the founder of several initiatives, including Flourish Anyway™, Thoughtful Books Etc.™, Belonging through Art™, Spiritual Direction for Writers®, Spiritual Direction for Belonging®, and Parenting with Art®, Charlotte has established herself as a thought leader and an authentic presence at the intersection of creativity and spirituality. Her essays have been featured in prominent publications such as The Washington Post, The Christian Century, Christianity Today, Catapult, and The Millions, among others. A new essay about art conservation, Joan Mitchell, and mystery is forthcoming with Image.
For those interested in staying updated on Charlotte's latest work, news, and insights, subscribe here and visit Flourish Anyway™, Charlotte’s online hub for all of her writing, spiritual direction, small press, gatherings, and other offerings.