Barnabas File

The pastor cares for the congregation, but who cares for the pastor? I often hear the phrase "a healthy pastor makes for a healthy church," but we will only have healthy pastors as well as other clergy leaders if we are intentional in providing the support they need.  Unfortunately, many churches do not yet see the need to invest in their ministers.   Whatever the church can do assure the health of the pastor and staff--spirituality, physically, emotionally--produces a great return on the investment. Every change of pastor or staff member challenges the smooth functioning of the congregation. When a pastor leaves, churches not only go through a time of transition, but members are called on to invest time and money in finding a new pastor.  The same is often true in replacing an effective staff minister. In most cases, a longer pastor or staff tenure benefits the congregation, providing continuity and assuring forward momentum. In a like ...

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 ...