Pastor, have you hit 'rock bottom'?

The Daily Telegraph recently featured a ten-year-long study of 500 Anglican clergy revealing that 41 per cent felt demoralised, 40 per cent felt isolated, and 35 per cent showed signs of possible mild clinical depression^[1].

It should be no surprise; Christian ministry is psychologically demanding.

Marcus Honeysett, the founding director of Living Leadership, suggests four things that affect a pastor's mood:

1. First is the feeling that the work is too big, there is too much to do and not enough time to do it.
2. Second, many pastors feel devalued, taken for granted, often having to live on a very low income.
3. Third, most clergy work hard, giving out more than they are receiving.
4. Fourth, though we are expected to lead we are often prevented from doing so effectively and criticised when we do.

There are other factors too. I once had to conduct a funeral for Tom, a man of my own age, who had died of colon cancer. A week or so later I woke in the night with stomach ache and thought, “I have got cancer!” For the next six months I couldn’t shake the thought that I was going to die, and my wife would be left to bring up our children on her own.

Malcolm Guite, chaplain of an Oxford college, points out that the word "conduct" cuts two ways. It usually means "to lead" but it can also mean to absorb, like a lightning conductor, the feelings in the room. I had absorbed the grief of Tom’s family, and a fear of his illness.

Christian ministry is psychologically costly in a way that few people appreciate.

What does the gospel say?

What does the gospel say to church leaders about caring for their ministers?

If you watch Jesus in action, you see someone under great pressure. He handled it through prayer and taking significant time out to be alone. He would walk away from needy crowds so that He could be with His Father. The greatest discovery of my life in Christian ministry was that it was okay to do this.

I took John Stott’s advice: “Every day at least one hour; every week one morning, afternoon or evening; every month a full day; every year a week… everybody who tries it is surprised to discover how much can be done within such a framework. It tots up to nearly 600 hours in the course of a year”^[2].

Church leaders need to ensure that their minister has their approval to take time to read, pray, think, write, or just de-clutter their minds and enjoy the Lord. This is where the good stuff in their ministry will originate.

Then the gospel encourages fellowship. Your minister needs friends, as well as mates. Do you know the difference? A mate tells you anything you want to hear: "Your critics are a bunch of idiots!" Your friends will tell you the truth and still stand by you: "Colin is too shy to tell you himself, but you really blessed him today with that sermon"; or, "Those critics have a point, how can we help you to process it?"

Think of Jesus’ life again. At the critical moments His friends were not there for Him. I have observed that ministers have their worst crises when their fellow leaders do the same. “There is a friend that sticks closer than a brother”. Be that friend.

Maybe you could start by finding out how your pastor is feeling, what keeps them awake at night, and what they need to enjoy their life of ministry in your church.

References

1. Clergy facing isolation and depression, says ten-year study
2. John Stott, I Believe in Preaching, Hodder, 1982