Research

At the Relationship Repair and Care Center, we engage in applied research. Applied research is research that begins with trying to understand a phenomenon and works towards using any new-found knowledge to improve the quality of life. We study how relationships develop, grow and change within social contexts such as the family, the workplace, and the church, and we use what we learn to help individuals repair and care for their own relationships.

THE P.A.T.H. RESEARCH PROJECT: UNDERSTANDING CLERGY HEALTH NEEDS

Currently, the focus of our research is on understanding clergy health needs. A significant number of clergy in the U.S. are not getting their health needs met. They suffer from stress related disorders such as high blood pressure and obesity, and they experience divorce, depression and discouragement at a higher rate than most people realize.

In order to understand the factors impacting the health of clergy in particular the health of African American clergy the RRCC is undertaking the Pastors Achieving Total Health (P.A.T.H.) Research Project. For this project, we have three primary questions:

1) What constrains clergy from acting in healthy ways? In other words, what prevents clergy from attending to their own physical, emotional and relational health needs?

2) How does the failure to address the clergyperson's health needs impact the following:

a. The religious leader her/himself?
b. The leader's family?
c. The leader's congregation?
d. The leader's community?

3) How can clergy get on the path to health and wholeness?

It is our hope that by seeking answers to these questions, we can more effectively minister to ministers.

Get Involved

If you are a pastor and are interested in being interviewed, surveyed or a participant in a focus group as part of our P.A.T.H. Research Project, please complete our interest form and we will contact you to discuss how you might become a participant in our study.

THE P.A.T.H. PROGRAM

Because our objective is not to just study clergy, but to actually help clergy reach their own personal health goals, the RRCC has instituted the Pastors Achieving Total Health (P.A.T.H.) Program to address the physical, emotional, and relational health needs of clergy. We are currently accepting applications from married, African American clergy to participate in the pilot program that will being in January 2012. For the pilot, we are recruiting 16 married African American pastors, eight women and eight men.

If you have an interest in the P.A.T.H. Program but you are not African American and/or you are not married, please complete an interest form so that we can notify you of when we are forming new cohorts that will be more inclusive.

To learn more about the P.A.T.H. Program, click here.

Contact Us

The Relationship Repair and Care Clinic
969 S. Village Oaks Drive
Suite 104
Covina, CA 91724
626-622-2502
[email protected]

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