Hope and Help For The Hardiest of Pastors
You’ll never see it on the faces of pastors as they enthusiastically welcome back people to onsite gatherings. While Facebook is generally good at allowing leaders to share their hi-lite reels, the behind the scenes stresses from fulfilling one of the hardest roles in the work world are not too far beneath the surface. COVID makes January 2020 seem like a hundred years ago.
Add in the exponentially challenging task of gearing up onsite services while maintaining high quality online experiences, in a season when most leaders and churches gear down, makes the summer of 2020 one of the most stress-filled times of the century for pastors.
Four Areas of Pressure
LifeWay Research recently learned from their clergy respondents of four significant areas of pressure and concern that are driving increased anxiety for them in this strange time of COVID-19 isolation:
challenges involved in providing pastoral care from a distance
complexities of planning returns to church sites, worship gatherings and congregational programs
personal exhaustion
disagreements and conflicts within the Church
Ministry is a marathon, not a sprint. However, during COVID, many pastors discovered they were in a triathlon. They felt like they finished a marathon run and were looking forward to a break only to be handed a bike and told that when they competed for the cycling portion they would be making a long swim.
Five Possibilities of Resignations
Chuck Lawless observed that the chaos of the times could lead to untimely pastoral resignations.
Some pastors are just worn out.
Some were already wrestling about their role prior to COVID.
Some were already talking to another church prior to COVID – or, they’ve begun that conversation in the last few months.
Some pastors of churches struggling before COVID are now facing the reality of their church struggling even more.
Some will resign because of marital and family issues exacerbated by the stress of these days.
Six Sources of Support
Don’t be isolated. Stay connected with prayerful and supportive family, friends, colleagues and fellowship members.
Take your holidays. Get away for more than a few days. Unplug. Leaders in the District are your remote staff. Reach out for pulpit supply.
Al and Yvonne Downey work out of our ABNWT District Resource Centre in Edmonton as the Pastoral Care Coordinators. A pastor to pastors, Al is a friend, mentor, and confidante to all. Reach all at al@abnwt.com or 780-977-2179. Yvonne offers empathetic, wise and caring support. Reach Yvonne at Yvonne@abnwt.com or call 780-966-9873. Simon and Ruth Clarence offer years of pastoral experience and are available for counselling at 780-289-6112 or clarencecounsellingcentre@gmail.comKarin Gregory, director of counselling at Focus on the Family Canada shares helpful insights and resources for pastors with heightened stress or anxiety.
Marshall and Merrie Eizenga operate Kerith Creek Retreats in Alberta. They noted their earliest retreat availability is October 20th and filling up fast.
Call Focus on the Family’s Clergy Care phone line and speak to one of their staff counsellors, dedicated to caring for pastors at 1.888.5.CLERGY (1. 888. 525. 3749).
SanctuaryMentalHealth.org provides training, tools and free resources to equip the Church to support mental health and well-being.
Twelve Things to Do at Halftime in 2020
Go in to the locker room.
Conserve energy.
Hydrate.
Forget the scoreboard.
Make adjustments to the game plan.
Focus on the positives.
Communicate the adjustments.
Do your job.
100% effort.
Play to the final whistle.
Hands in
Cheer.
God is for you. So are we.
Bob Jones is the founder of REVwords.com, an author, blogger, and coach with 39 years of pastoral experience. Bob is also an Advance Coach with the ABNWT Resource Centre. You can connect with Bob here.