Clergy Wellbeing, Stress and Mind Matters

CLERGY STRESS is not a recent phenomenon. In 1998, the in the Churchman, Alan G. Palmer wrote an article Clergy Stress, Causes and Suggested Coping Strategies, and there were other books, papers and articles written about it in the preceding decades. In the 1980s and 1990s, across the books being written about pastoral ministry, stress was one of the biggest factors in a person leaving the ordained ministry. It was considered that the incidence of clergy stress and clergy burnout was increasing.

It would appear that the same can be said of the 2010s and especially the 2020s. Clergy stress and clergy burnout was experienced across the dioceses of the Church of Ireland and in other denominations before the COVID pandemic, but since the pandemic, the numbers are significantly higher. The task of trying to re-build faith communities has been daunting and for many overwhelming. When people liken the COVID pandemic to World War One and World War Two, the analogy only goes so far. Throughout the two world wars, people came to their churches to pray; to pray for their loved ones, to pray for peace and an end to the war, and to bring their grief at the loss of family members. People still gathered together. Communities supported each other. There was meeting-up, face-to-face conversation, social interaction and engagement. Churches and parishes were places and spaces of worship, comfort, community, nurture, support and sustenance.

* Full article available in printed copies.

Gillian Wharton

is rector of Booterstown and Carysfort with Mount Merrion, Diocese of Dublin, Clerical Honorary Secretary of the General Synod of the Church of Ireland, and a member of the Mind Matters steering group.