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A Pastor Who Can Laugh

Stephen McCutchan is an ordained Presbyterian minister. In thirty-eight years serving the church as a pastor, he discovered the role humor can play in offering ministry to an often fractured society. He also recognized the healing power of humor in combating the toxic stress and loneliness of being a pastor. Now, in retirement, he offers his gifts as a writer, humorist, and advocate for the care of clergy. He is author of fourteen books and two CDs in support of various aspects of ministry by clergy. These include two books on the ways to draw on Scripture (Matthew and the Psalms), three devotional books based on the Revised Common Lectionary, a mystery novel, A Star and a Tear, that explores the symbiotic relationship between sexuality and spirituality. One CD, A Deep Well for the Pastor combines the music of david bailey with meditations around the challenges of ministry. The second CD, Laughter From the Well, again makes use of david bailey’s music, augmented by music by Brian McFarland mixed with comedy skits about pastoral life. A new series, Healthy Clergy Make Healthy Congregations. [HCMHC] currently offers three volumes. Volume 1, A Company of Pastors, provides a twenty-session structure for a fresh approach for a pastors’ support group. The author draws upon fictional stories about different aspects of ministry to engage clergy in exploring their experiences in ministry. Volume 2, God Laughs—Why Don’t You?, focuses on the use of humor both in the practice of ministry and in the sustaining ones physical, emotional, and spiritual health as clergy. The third volume in the HCMHC series is An Interim’s Gift To a Congregation. This book offers a plan on ways an interim can educate a congregation about the stresses in clergy life and how the congregation can offer support in addressing these stresses in their pastor’s ministry. All of his published works are available on his Web site www.smccutchan.com as well as his weekly blog on various practical ways that clergy, congregations, and denominations can practice healthy ministry.