Date

7-2020

Department

Rawlings School of Divinity

Degree

Doctor of Ministry (DMin)

Chair

Seth Polk

Keywords

Stress, Burnout, Self-Care, Vulnerability, Discipline, Rest

Disciplines

Christianity | Religion | Religious Thought, Theology and Philosophy of Religion

Abstract

Pastors are called to the ministry of helps while also needing help. The care and counseling they offer others can also be beneficial to them. Unfortunately, they are often so busy helping others they may neglect themselves and their families. Consequently, what is meant to be a blessing becomes a curse. Pastors often suffer with the silent frustrations of their call, personal temptations, family pressures and career desires while struggling to hold it together. The pastor may be limited in who can be entrusted with the deep concerns of their hearts. Everybody needs someone they can talk with and the pastor is often not afforded such a privilege. They are expected to have all of the answers and the spiritual prowess to overcome all obstacles and life challenges. The truth is, the pastor needs a confidant more than anybody else. The confidant needed is someone who is not in the same condition or position, but who is a licensed professional trained to help them navigate their concerns and challenges. Submitting to a licensed pastoral counselor or therapist can prove most helpful in securing the health of the pastor and subsequently the church. The research method used for this study is a questionnaire survey of 100 pastors of Baptist or Pentecostal churches in the South Florida region. The questionnaire was provided to willing participants and collected by email. Responses will be kept confidential to ensure participant transparency. The findings of the questionnaire are compiled and summarized to reveal the urgency of self-care among pastors.

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