The Helping Professions and Clergy Health

Wespath, the benefits and investment entity of United Methodists, recently published a report titled, “Clergy Health Factors--What Matters Most.” The report states, “Healthy churches and congregations foster healthy clergy and church leaders--and vice-versa.”

The report identified 13 factors that influence clergy health. Some are specific to the Methodist system--“stressors of the appointment process” and “appointment changes and relocation” --but might be translated into similar challenges in other denominational contexts. Some deal with issues that might be addressed through formal counseling--“personal centeredness” and “marital and family satisfaction.”

The rest of the list reflects the concerns that I often see articulated by pastors in coaching conversations. For example, “relationship with congregation,” “work/life balance,” “existential burdens of ministry,” and “outside interests and social life.”

The study stresses the need for congregations and denominational systems to provide opportunities for clergy to engage with those who can help them to be more effective: health care providers, pastoral counselors, coaches, and spiritual directors.

Clergy often do not seek assistance from these helping professionals because they don’t want to be seen as inadequate by their congregations or their judicatory leaders. Church personnel committees, denominational leaders, and helping professionals must find ways to work together to overcome this stigma and provide the support that will nourish healthy clergy and healthy congregations. This is essential to the future of both ministers and congregations.

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