Pastors today are burning out at an accelerated rate compared to six years ago, and levels of satisfaction in ministry have sharply declined during that same period. According to Barna Research, 72% of pastors reported feeling “very satisfied” with their jobs in 2015. By 2022, that number had dropped to 52%.
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Likewise, 66% of pastors said they felt “more confident” in their calling in 2015, compared to just 35% in 2022. Reasons cited for the dramatic shift include significant stress and emotional exhaustion, often tied to ongoing labor shortages, reduced volunteer support and heightened congregational needs.
“We know that healthy leaders — emotionally, mentally and physically — are in a better position to lead healthy churches. However, sometimes people just need a reset,” said Joe Sorah, specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board’s Strengthening Gospel Leaders initiative.
Finding healthy rhythms
Sorah said that is why the TBMB is hosting a series of Reset conferences designed to give ministers an opportunity to unplug and return to healthy rhythms “as designed by the Creator.”
“A lot of ministers get to the point where they feel they’ve lost their way,” Sorah said. “We can look at the data, and it tells an alarming story, but we’ve also had enough conversations with pastors and ministers across the state to verify the research. Guys are stressed.”
Fortunately, burnout can be overcome and a fresh sense of calling restored, according to various studies. One study suggests recovery often begins with honest self-assessment, followed by intentional actions such as building peer networks and engaging with mentors.
“That’s one of our goals with Reset,” Sorah said. “We will focus on ministers’ spiritual health and emotional and mental health. We are also addressing physical health through our 5-4-5 initiative (exercise five times a week for five months). We want to see our ministers thrive, and that is foundational to what it means to strengthen gospel leaders.”
‘We all need connections’
Three Reset conferences are scheduled in February, with TBMB’s Danny Sinquefield leading discussions on spiritual health at each event.
The conferences will also include professional practitioners who will lead sessions on emotional and mental health.
“I strongly encourage ministers to take advantage of this opportunity,” Sorah said. “We all need connections with other ministers and, at the very least, practical knowledge on how to avoid burnout if you don’t already have it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by and originally published by Tennessee’s Baptist and Reflector.
