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Today we're talking about a profession in which there is a lot of chance of stress and burnout being experienced, and that is the area of people working in or around clergy. This includes people who are pastors, ministers or even volunteers. It includes people who are serving in some capacity where they're aiming to shepherd the spiritual lives of others.
Now, before you click away if you're not in a religious organisation, this post will still give you some insights into how burnout can affect us all, and there will certainly be some nuggets of information that I'm sure you will see can be applied to your situation even if you are not working in the clergy.
I'm not a pastor or ministry leader, I've only volunteered in the past, so for this episode I've consulted with several pastors and ministry leaders to make sure this content can be as relevant and practical as possible.
So let's start by discussing the unique-ish situation of being a pastor and in ministry.
Unique-ish situation of being a pastor
Unique-ish situation of being a pastor
I say "unique-ish" because many of these issues can be applied to different sectors, industries, and careers. However, this list that I'm going to discuss primarily addresses stressors that often come up for pastors and those in ministry. Pastors are usually held in high regard and often face high expectations. These expectations frequently come from the people they are serving, such as the congregation. Often, people may have misaligned expectations regarding a pastor's resources.
Of the pastors I spoke to, some described being seen as a "theological vending machine," expected to have all the answers and to be available at all times to address questions. Along the same lines, people often assume that pastors are always spiritually sound. One pastor pointed out that this can inflate the pastor's ego, making them want to appear perfectly spiritual, which in turn can lead to self-imposed pressures.
This added pressure can make pastors feel like everything they say must carry significant weight. They feel they must always be "on," which can lead to fears of revealing vulnerability or imperfections. Another commonly mentioned stressor was the need to always be available, which can lead to a lack of rest. One pastor also noted that this constant availability could erode family time, as they have to attend to ministry duties.
Pastors often have to respond to various crisis situations involving grief, which can expose them to traumatic experiences. Another unique challenge they face is dealing with spiritual questioning, which can sometimes lead to self-doubt about their own faith or spiritual condition.
The challenges can be isolating, due in part to high expectations and occasional loneliness. Many pastors work in small congregations where they may not have connections with other pastors, making it hard to discuss these issues with peers.
Though not unique to ministry, this is fundamentally a people business. Pastors and ministry workers often spend their days giving to others, which can lead to social, mental, and emotional exhaustion. At the end of the day, this can make it difficult for pastors to focus on their families and get proper rest.
Finally, another unique stressor for pastors and those in ministry is the concept of spiritual guilt. They may feel compelled to give their absolute maximum effort and resources, either through self-imposed expectations or external pressures. There's a prevailing notion that everything, especially in a Christian community, should be for God, leading to guilt if one does not give their all.
So, as you can see, there are a variety of stressors that can lead to stress and burnout for those in pastoral roles and ministry.
Signs and symptoms of pastoral and ministry burnout
Now, these stressors can lead to signs and symptoms, including, as I already mentioned, exhaustion—be it mental, physical, or emotional. They can also result in a lack of enthusiasm for ministry work. Pastors might not see the value in what they're doing anymore. In some cases, this can lead to decreased patience toward members of their congregation, especially those who demand more resources. And by "resources," I mean either the pastor's time or focus.
The pastor might then start questioning their own abilities to deal with the various situations that different people bring up, as well as the business and financial aspects of running a church. Additionally, there can be real cynicism about whether these stressful situations and pressures will change in the near future.
Another symptom can be increased stress and tension with others. This could stem from, as I mentioned, a lack of patience toward those who demand more of the pastor's resources, or even from cynicism about people wanting to use the pastor as a theological vending machine, so to speak.
This can all lead to self-doubt. Regardless of where we work, we often judge ourselves for not meeting certain expectations in handling situations. This is especially problematic for pastors, as these are often self-imposed expectations that they should be able to manage all these stressors thrown at them. And as mentioned, this can even lead to a crisis of faith: questioning whether this is really what God wants them to do, or if they are doing something incorrectly and not knowing how to resolve it.
So, that's a pretty bleak list. Unfortunately, it's also a very real one. From talking to pastors, it's a prevalent list of different stressors.
Recommendations for overcoming and preventing pastoral burnout
Recommendations for overcoming and preventing pastoral burnout
So what can we do about it? What can pastors and ministry leaders do to overcome and prevent pastoral burnout? The first recommendation is to seek mutual support from other pastors and colleagues. It may be really helpful to get support from those who are not in the same church, or even not in the same denomination. Stress and burnout is not a denominational issue; it's a ministry issue that can be felt across denominations. Additionally, consider support from a trained mental health professional. Now, I want to address the stigma around seeking help from secular resources like counsellors. There are many practical strategies known to help stress and burnout that are not contradictory to the teachings of the Bible. So use discernment, but even secular counsellors can offer wisdom on stress and burnout prevention strategies. I'd suggest doing this in tandem with Christian mentorship. That way, you have others helping you with both practical and spiritual burdens.
Another important intervention, mentioned by several pastors, is increasing familial connection and support. Make sure you carve out time to spend with your family and get rest and renewal that way. Other practical suggestions, not necessarily unique to being a pastor, are to establish boundaries. Make sure you have a solid work-life balance and set aside time for rest. This might mean you need to turn off your phone from contact with others. Some pastors may find this notion ridiculous, thinking the congregation should be able to contact them at any time. I don't think that's necessarily true. And if your congregation does feel it's true, or has any other expectations that shouldn't be there, you need to establish realistic expectations on your resources, both with yourself and your congregation. You might need to educate your congregation on appropriate boundaries to allow you to rest and recover, especially during stressful periods.
Another key intervention is to delegate tasks where possible. A pastor only has a certain amount of resources, and there are more tasks in the church than one person can handle. So delegate tasks to other volunteers, staff members, or other pastors if there's an eldership in place. Not only that, but it's also crucial for church staff and elders to support and care for each other—spiritually, mentally, and in terms of stress, in addition to the business side. I've heard from several pastors that the business side can often be prioritised over personal lives, and it's important to ensure that doesn't happen.
Several pastors also mentioned interventions that, I'm sure they'd agree, can be helpful for anyone in a relationship with God. That is to find comfort and rest in the Lord. The Bible encourages us to trust in God's guidance, not our own. Our earthly trials are temporary compared to the eternal joy and peace promised by God. For example, Matthew 11:28-30 says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." And then there's also 1 Peter 5:7, "Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
Two other aspects for churches in this context include educating the congregation to understand that pastors and ministry leaders are flawed, not perfect. They need the gospel as much as anyone else. This isn't to say the expectations for pastors shouldn't be somewhat higher than for the congregation, but it's important to recognise that pastors, believe it or not, might have their own spiritual contributors to stress. Pastors may need to seek the help of a trusted friend or mentor to identify these causes, which could range from a need for power to a need for success.
Concluding thoughts
Concluding thoughts
Thank you for reading today.
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At Coolout, in 2023, we're developing Stress Management, Burnout Prevention and Burnout Recovery self-led online courses, a book and doing one-on-one burnout coaching. If you want to stay up to date, you can find a newsletter subscription where you can stay up to date with new content and information about upcoming training and product releases.