| abstract |
Today, workers around the world, and in particular the United States, find themselves under incredible pressure. "The stressors include low wages, lack of opportunity for growth and advancement, a very heavy workload, unrealistic job expectations, and long hours." The causes and consequences of workplace stress are reported in journals, magazine articles, and books. The anxiety of stress is felt beyond the corporate world and is also reflected in similar research in higher education. As a theological response to workplace stress, specifically at an institution of higher education, the chaplain's office has been approved to create the Center for Spiritual Renewal. The Center will provide tools and strategies for participants to use in dealing with workplace stress. The Center will provide workshops and retreats to communicate and educate members of the community about work stress and invite employees of the University Community to participate in structured retreats to provide spiritual growth and mindfulness strategies to better cope with workplace stress. The Center for Spiritual Renewal at Centenary University seeks to provide a grounding experience found in the theology of work. The theology of work reminds us of the balance between holding ourselves sacred while simultaneously engaging in an activity that is meaningful and beneficial. Through the use of biblical examples of work and spiritual health, well-being retreats will be given to provide strategies to create a balance between work and rest that is important to a person's spiritual, emotional, and psychological renewal. The workshops provided during the retreats will help participants understand their sacredness within their engagement of work. The workshops will address the importance of meaningful relationships between employers and employees. Most importantly, the retreats will support spiritual renewal that restores their relationship with God as well as a deeper relationship with family, friends, and our community. The retreats will reflect a Wesleyan approach to spiritual discipline based on the Methodist roots of the University. The traditional disciplines include meditation, prayer, searching Scripture, conferencing and fasting. In a more contemporary use of language as well as infusing mindfulness strategies, the retreats will include meditation, centering prayer, study, journaling, intentional living, and conferencing. The retreats offered at the center will provide participants with disciplines and practices to renew their spiritual lives as well as develop strategies for dealing with workplace stress.
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