Full-Time Ministry Drains Too Many Clergy and Church Budgets. Part-Time Pastors Can Help.
The happier, healthier future of ministry is in part-time clergy.
Review: Wounded Pastors
In "Wounded Pastors: Navigating Burnout, Finding Healing, and Discerning the Future of Your Ministry," Carol Howard Merritt and James Fenimore offer guidance for pastors who have been hurt by the church.
US Pastors Struggle With Post-Pandemic Burnout. Survey Shows Half Considered Quitting Since 2020
More than 4 in 10 of clergy have seriously considered leaving their congregations at least once since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than half thought seriously of leaving the ministry.
Clergy Burnout Is a Growing Concern in Polarized Churches. A Summit Offers Coping Strategies
Faith leaders have increasingly stepped into the frontlines of care for growing mental health distress across the U.S., from college campuses to the military and rural communities.
Meet the Pastor Behind That ‘Quitting the Church’ Essay
A pastor's last thoughts on leaving the ministry sparked a national conversation about clergy health and the future of the church.
Giving Is Up at Churches and People Are Back, but Clergy Still Thinking About Quitting
While life at local congregations has returned mostly to normal, the future remains uncertain.
God Rested. Why Can’t Clergy Take a Break?
(RNS) — A doctor should not perform surgery if she is tired. A pilot should not fly if he is tired. And clergy who counsel and take on the audacious task of sharing something of God should not attempt these fearsome duties when we are
‘I Feel so Distant From God’: Popular D.C.-Area Pastor Confesses He’s Tired, Announces Sabbatical
After 30 years of preaching more than 5,000 sermons, the Rev. Howard-John Wesley stood in front of his congregation on Dec. 1 and admitted he needed a break from the Lord’s work: “I am tired in my soul.”
Study Finds That Self-Compassion Helps Prevent Clergy Burnout
A recent study found that having a gentle attitude of self-regard may help clergy have greater life satisfaction and be more likely to be inspired and enthusiastic—rather than upset and guilty—about their ministry.