{"id":1615,"date":"2010-08-05T04:40:59","date_gmt":"2010-08-05T04:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/?p=1615"},"modified":"2010-08-05T04:40:59","modified_gmt":"2010-08-05T04:40:59","slug":"unhealthy_clergy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hypersync.net\/wordpress\/?p=1615","title":{"rendered":"Unhealthy Clergy"},"content":{"rendered":"

I worked as the Data Analyst for the three year, multi-million dollar, multi-national research study (it was a real study!) dealing with healthcare benefits for Episcopal clergy and lay employees.  In our research, it became blatantly apparent that clergy are an unhealthy bunch.  The nature of the work and difficulty we have setting boundaries contribute to our lives being less than healthy.  We are undisciplined in this area, too.<\/p>\n

I have found that I actually have to physically leave home and neighborhood (get out of town) so that I will  take a true day off!<\/p>\n

This article appeared recently on AOL<\/a>‘s blog, “Politics Daily<\/a>.”  It is entitled, “No Rest For the Holy: Clergy Burnout a Growing
\nConcern<\/a>,” by David Gibson, Religion Reporter.  Here are a couple paragraphs:<\/p>\n

“The untenable nature of the experience for me [being a pastor\/priest] was being designated the
\nholiest member of the congregation, who could be in all places at all
\ntimes and require no time for sermon preparation,” Barbara Brown Taylor,
\nan Episcopal priest, said in describing her memoir, “Leaving Church,”
\nabout her decision to abandon the pulpit. “Those aren’t symptomatic of a
\nmean congregation; those are normal expectations of 24\/7 availability.”<\/p>\n

Indeed, unlike doctors or police, for example, pastors are supposed to
\nbe people who have dedicated their lives to a spiritual goal and are not
\nexpected to focus on themselves and their own welfare in the here and
\nnow. <\/p>\n

“I really don’t think people think about their pastors,” said Rae Jean
\nProeschold-Bell, research director of the Duke Clergy Health Initiative.
\n“They admire their pastor, and their pastor is very visible. But they
\nwant their pastor to be the broker between them and God, and they don’t
\nwant them to be as human as they themselves are.” <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Further on:<\/p>\n

A program called the National
\nClergy Renewal Program<\/a>, funded by the Lilly Endowment, has been
\nunderwriting sabbaticals for pastors for several years; the program will
\nprovide up to $50,000 to 150 congregations in the coming year. And
\nplaces like The Alban
\nInstitute<\/a> in Herndon, Va., are studying the topic and offering
\nexpertise and resources to denominations trying to make their clergy
\nhealthier…<\/p>\n

But experts also say the solutions have to start at the congregational
\nlevel. <\/p>\n

Congregants can encourage pastors to take time off, and not view
\neverything in the church as the pastor’s responsibility. They can also
\nbe sure to provide healthy food at church events. But clergy must also
\nlearn find time to exercise or relax, even if it means saying no to some
\nrequests. Otherwise, they won’t be healthy enough to serve their flock
\nlater on. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Enhanced<\/a>