Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
The Baptist Paper
Search
Close
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Request a free trial

Processing pastors’ anxiety: Lifeway shares 5 helpful actions

  • June 26, 2022
  • Lifeway Christian Resources
  • Featured, Latest News, Leadership, Lifeway, SBC 2022
The estimated 700 people in attendance pray together at the conclusion of the Lifeway breakfast on June 14 at the Anaheim Marriott during the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Anaheim, California.
(Photo courtesy of Lifeway Christian Resources)

Processing pastors’ anxiety: Lifeway shares 5 helpful actions

Whether current events have Southern Baptists on edge or on the edge of their seats, one thing is clear — many church leaders are wrestling with anxiety on a regular basis.

Dealing with angst was the topic of an episode of “The Glass House” podcast recorded live at a breakfast hosted by Lifeway Christian Resources at the 2022 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting June 14. The podcast was recorded before an estimated 700 breakfast attendees and featured Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell, his wife, Lynley, and special guest Steve Cuss, leadership coach, author and former trauma and hospice chaplain.

Calm in the midst of tension

Cuss began by discussing the power found in taking short moments of pause when panic sets in. He alluded to examples from the Gospels when Jesus brought a calming presence to tense situations.

“The most anxious person in any room has the most power unless there’s a calming leader present,” Cuss said. He provided attendees a framework for spotting anxiety at work in and around them, beginning with evaluating the “space inside me,” and how we often catch and shoulder the anxiety others are holding on to.

“Pastors are so mission focused, they’re often not aware of themselves,” Cuss shared, stating that in the rush to address others’ anxiety, leaders tend to ignore their own pulse, allowing the concerns and complaints of church members, guests and even social media personalities to negatively affect them.

“It only takes 30 seconds to take inventory of yourself,” Cuss said, encouraging leaders to first determine if the anxiety they’re feeling is being generated from within or if it’s coming from outside sources. “Ask yourself, ‘What’s going on in a group before I walk into it?’” he said.

Anxiety among pastors

The Mandrells shared that they sent text messages to about a dozen pastors and their wives asking them to share what they felt nervous about heading into the SBC meeting. Answers ranged from “Why do I feel angry at everyone right now?” to issues surrounding sustainability, such as “Will the Sexual Abuse Task Force report cause more people in my church to leave? The pain of people leaving is real and seems to be happening in Southern Baptist churches all over the country.”

Cuss acknowledged the current climate in the SBC represents not just a person who is on edge but a system that is anxious and marked by polarization. To help leaders process fears and anxiety, he presented a tool that focuses of five actions:

  1. Keep your anxiety from spilling over to others.
  2. Keep yourself from catching the anxiety of others.
  3. Stay emotionally connected to yourself and them.
  4. Stay connected to your vision and values.
  5. Align your values with reality.

Cuss shared that this process is an ongoing effort.

“The problem with anxiety is that we want to graduate from it,” Cuss said. He encouraged leaders to persevere, cautioning them against the rushed tendency to shrink others’ pain down as a way for us to control it.

“Intense and angry people want you to match their intensity,” he said. “Watch your listening posture. Listen to learn rather than to defend and don’t move too quickly.” He reminded listeners that someone’s behavior doesn’t give permission to respond in a way that’s not loving to others.

In concluding the breakfast and podcast, the Mandrells and Cuss transitioned from the problem to the problem-solver. He referenced a location where many in the room regularly experience anxiety: the pulpit.

“When I approach the pulpit, I remember I’m entering the presence of where God’s already at work,” he said. “It’s not on me.”

The full episode of “The Glass House” podcast that was recorded at the Lifeway breakfast will appear soon BenMandrell.com.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by Aaron Wilson and originally published by Lifeway Newsroom.

Share with others:

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows
    Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments
  • Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer
    Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer
    March 22, 2023/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

Former SWBTS professor of missions Samuel Shahid dies at 87

Samuel Shahid, professor of missions in the Islamic Studies program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary from 1998–2013, died March 2. He was 87 years old.

a stack of money sitting on top of a laptop computer

Churches more financially equipped to weather hardships, study shows

After enduring difficult economic seasons recently, churches are better prepared for financial rainy days than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A Lifeway Research study

Tony Wolfe elected new SCBC executive director-treasurer

South Carolina Baptist Convention messengers unanimously elected Tony Wolfe as the new executive director-treasurer Monday afternoon (March 20) in a special called meeting at Shandon

person holding black iphone 5

Could potential TikTok ban impact online outreach?

As the social media app TikTok continues to raise security concerns, some churches and ministries would face a significant shift in outreach strategy if the

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2023 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Editorials
  • Archive
  • Your state news
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Persecuted Church
  • Submit your news
  • Photo Galleries
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us
  • Our Team
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Hosted Church
  • Donate
  • Contact us

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel