Abstract
Pastors risk burnout because of inordinate ministerial demands, which may drain their emotional, cognitive, spiritual, and physical energy reserves and impair their overall effectiveness. Burnout advances across three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced accomplishment. The debilitating effects of pastoral burnout were examined through a survey of 270 pastors. Relationships between burnout and three potentially preventative or mitigating factors, spiritual renewal, rest-taking, and support system practices, were explored. The results identified spiritual dryness as the primary predictor of emotional exhaustion, the stress dimension of burnout. In the published literature, no other work to date has empirically substantiated a link between pastors’ spirituality and burnout. These findings expand the burnout construct and promote leader self-care practices that foster resilience, vitality, and well-being.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barna, B. (1993). Today’ s pastors: A revealing look at what pastors are saying about themselves, their peers and the pressures they face. Ventura: Regal Books.
Berry, W. D. (1993). Understanding regression assumptions. Newbury Park: Sate.
Caplan, G. (1986). The family as a support system. In G. Caplan, & M. Killiea (Eds.), Support systems and mutual help (pp. 19–36). New York: Grune and Stratton.
Carver, C. S. (1998). Resilience and thriving: Issues, models, and linkages. Journal of Social Issues, 54(2), 245–266.
Chandler, C. H. (1987). Minister’ s support group: Alternative to burnout. Nashville: Convention.
Diddams, M., Surdyk, L., Daniels, D., & Van Duzer, J. (2004). Implications of biblical principles of rhythm and rest for individual and organizational practices. Christian Scholar’s Review, 33(3), 311–332.
Ellison, C. W., & Mattila, W. S. (1983). The needs of evangelical Christian leaders in the United States. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 11(1), 28–35.
Foster, R. J. (1998). Celebration of discipline: The path to spiritual growth (20th Anniversary). New York: HarperCollins Publishers.
Gemignani, M. (2002). Spiritual formation for pastors: Feeding the fire within. Valley Forge: Judson.
Gilbert, B. G. (1987). Who ministers to ministers? A study of support systems for clergy and spouses. Washington: The Alban Institute.
Gold, Y., Bachelor, P. A., & Michael, W. B. (1989). The dimensionality of a modified form of the Maslach Burnout Inventory for university students in a teacher-training program. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 49, 549–561.
Grosch, W. N., & Olsen, D. C. (2000). Clergy burnout: An integrative approach. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 56(5), 619–632.
Guinn, J. (1999). Sabbath-keeping — The May 1999 survey. Louisville, KY: Research Services, General Assembly Council, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Retrieved August 8, 20058 from http://www/pcusa.org/research/monday/sabkeep.htm
Hair Jr., J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Tatham, R. L., & Anderson, R. E. (2005). Multivariate data analysis (6th ed.). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
Hall, T. W. (1997). The personal functioning of pastors: A review of empirical research with implications for the care of pastors. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 25(2), 240–253.
Hallsten, L. (1993). Burning out: A framework. In W. B. Schaufeli, C. Maslach, & T. Marek (Eds.), Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research (pp. 95–113). Washington: Taylor & Francis.
Hands, D. R., & Fehr, W. L. (1993). Spiritual wholeness for clergy: A new psychology of intimacy with God, self, and others. Washington: The Alban Institute.
Hulme, W. E. (1985). Managing stress in ministry. San Francisco: Harper & Row.
Jackson, S. E., Schwab, R. L., & Schuler, R. S. (1986). Toward an understanding of the burnout phenomenon. Journal of Applied Psychology, 71(14), 630–640.
Jinkins, M., & Wulff, K. (2002, May). Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary’s clergy burnout survey. Congregations (Publication of the Alban Institute). Retrieved on August 18, 2008, from http://www.alban.org/pdf/AustinGrad2-app.pdf
Lee, T. (2003). Sabbath-keeping by Protestant ministers: An avenue of meeting the basic psychological needs and mitigating professional burnout. Dissertation Abstracts International, 64(08), 4110B. (UMI No. 3103494)
Lee, R. T., & Ashforth, B. E. (1993). A further examination of managerial burnout: Toward an integrated model. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 14(1), 3–20.
Lee, R. T., & Ashforth, B. E. (1996). A meta-analytic examination of the correlates of the three dimensions of job burnout. Journal of Applied Psychology, 81(2), 123–133.
Leiter, M. P., & Maslach, C. (1988). The impact of interpersonal environment on burnout and organizational commitment. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 9(4), 297–308.
London Jr., H. B., & Wiseman, N. B. (2003). Pastors at greater risk. Ventura: Regal Books.
Maslach, C. (1982). Burnout: The cost of caring. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice Hall.
Maslach, C. (1993). Burnout: A multidimensional perspective. In W. B. Schaufeli, C. Maslach, & T. Marek (Eds.), Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research (pp. 19–32). Washington: Taylor & Francis.
Maslach, C. (2000). A multidimensional theory of burnout. In C. S. Cooper (Ed.), Theories of Organizational Stress (pp. 68–85). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Maslach, C. A., & Jackson, S. E. (1986). Maslach Burnout Inventory manual. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists.
Maslach, C. A., & Leiter, M. P. (1997). The truth about burnout. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Maslach, C. A., Jackson, S. E., & Leiter, M. (1996). Maslach Burnout Inventory manual (3rd ed.). Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologists.
McNeal, R. (2000). A work of heart: Understanding how God shapes spiritual leaders. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Minirth, F., Hawkins, D., Meier, P., & Flournoy, R. (1986). How to beat burnout. Chicago: Moody.
Nelson, A. E. (2002). Spirituality & leadership: Harnessing the wisdom, guidance, and power of the soul. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
Nouwen, H. J. (2001). In the name of Jesus: Reflections on Christian leadership. New York: Crossroad.
Ostrander, D. L., Henry, C. S., & Fournier, D. G. (1994). Stress, family resources, coping, and adaptation in ministers’ families. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 13(1), 50–67.
Oswald, R. M. (1991a). Clergy self-care: Finding a balance for effective ministry. Washington: Alban Institute.
Oswald, R. M. (1991b). How to build a support system for your ministry. Washington: Alban Institute.
Pines, A. M., & Aronson, E. (1989). Career burnout: Causes and cures. New York: Free.
Sanders, J. O. (1980). Spiritual leadership. Chicago: Moody.
Sanford, J. A. (1982). Ministry burnout. New York: Paulist.
Schaufeli, W. B., & Enzmann, D. (1998). The burnout companion to study & practice: A critical analysis. Philadelphia: Taylor & Francis.
Spaite, D. (1999). Time bomb in the Church: Defusing pastoral burnout. Kansas City: Beacon Hill.
Swenson, R. A. (1992). Margin: Restoring emotional, physical, financial, and time reserves to overloaded lives. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
Swenson, R. A. (2002). The overload syndrome: Learning to live within your limits. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
Warner, J., & Carter, J. D. (1984). Loneliness, marital adjustment and burnout in pastoral and lay persons. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 12(2), 125–131.
Westman, M., & Etzion, D. (1995). Crossover of stress, strain and resources from one spouse to another. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 16(2), 169–181.
Whitney, D. S. (1991). Spiritual disciplines for the Christian life. Colorado Springs: NavPress.
Willard, D. (1988). The spirit of the disciplines: Understanding how God changes lives. San Francisco: Harper.
Willard, D. (1999). Hearing God: Developing a conversational relationship with God. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press.
Willimon, W. H. (1989). Clergy and laity burnout. Nashville: Abingdon.
Winnubst, J. (1993). Organizational structure, social support, and burnout. In W. B. Schaufeli, C. Maslach, & T. Marek (Eds.), Professional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research (pp. 151–162). Washington: Taylor & Francis.
Wuellner, F. S. (1998). Feed my shepherds: Spiritual healing and renewal for those in Christian leadership. Nashville: Upper Room Books.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chandler, D.J. Pastoral Burnout and the Impact of Personal Spiritual Renewal, Rest-taking, and Support System Practices. Pastoral Psychol 58, 273–287 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-008-0184-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11089-008-0184-4