Clergy Share Their Top Sources of Stress; We Add Suggestions for Alleviating It

As a new season of ministry kicks into gear, sources of stress are sure to kick in, too. People may be one of the most stressful parts of being a pastor, but they're also key to lightening the load.    

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Trends in Ministry Flourishing

Clergy share their top sources of stress; we add suggestions for alleviating it. 

For most pastors, it’s not the pulpit but the people that make their vocation rewarding but challenging.  

According to our newly published findings in Mental Health, Religion, and Culture, among 49 North Carolina United Methodist Church clergy interviewed in 2020-21, the most agreed upon source of stress was conflict with their parishioners (endorsed by 82% of those interviewed).   

While parishioners don't hold formal authority over pastors, they are one of the greatest perceived influences on pastors’ mental health. One clergy person shared, “There [are] dominant voices that everybody listens to, and it…kind of feeds doubt, and it even feeds doubt within myself.” 

READ: Feeling Loved and Cared For By Congregants is Key to Clergy Health  

Other leading sources of stress endorsed across those interviewed include family issues (73%), political polarization (65%), finances (59%), and conflict with their district superintendent or bishop (51%). 

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In addition to parishioner conflict, family-related stress was a pervasive concern among clergy. “My first appointment, we realized that things were really strained in the family life,” one pastor noted. “I was trying to be a perfect new pastor, and a perfect student, and a perfect parent, and the perfect husband…It was just too much perfection. And things started to come apart." 

Other stressors were more prevalent to clergy depending on their mental health status. Using a combination of mental health markers, clergy were categorized into four groups: Flourishing, Burdened but Fulfilled, Languishing, and Distressed. Clergy in the Distressed group were significantly more likely to report conflict with their district superintendent or bishop (64%) than those in other groups. 

READ: Mental Health Profiles Help Clergy Assess Their Own Flourishing  

Demographic analysis also revealed an interesting distinction between those in the Distressed and Flourishing groups: the Distressed clergy tended to be younger. Given those in the Distressed group also tended to experience more conflict with supervisors, pairing older and younger clergy together in mentorship programs where conflict management is covered may be beneficial. 

In addition, supervisors might mitigate stressful situations by receiving nonviolent communication training or training in other facilitation styles in which they aim to better understand clergy differences in opinions, personalities, and approaches to ministry. This approach is beneficial for fostering an environment where both clergy and supervisors can address misunderstanding, prevent conflicts, and create a harmonious working relationship. 

Across all clergy, stronger communication between clergy and congregants can proactively build trust and may prevent future conflict. Resources for clergy personnel committees have been designed to build healthy communication and trust between clergy and congregants, including our own Keeping the Faith resource.  

READ: Six-Week Conversation Guide Helps Pastors and Church Leaders Strengthen Their Bond 

While leaving ministry due to stress is rare (a change in calling is more common), a new Lifeway Research Study cites many of the same stressors as our study: including those related to church conflict (cited by 18% of those who left), burnout (cited by 16%), and family and financial issues (each cited by 10%).  

Notably, the study also asked what advice former pastors had for current pastors to help them thrive in ministry. “It is important to notice what former pastors do not give as advice,” reflected Lifeway's Executive Director, Scott McConnell. “They do not encourage pastors to do more themselves. Trusting in God and taking time to care for their family and themselves make up most of the advice.” 

As a new season of ministry kicks into gear, sources of stress are sure to kick in, too. People may be one of the most stressful parts of being a pastor, but they’re also the very heart of learning to be a body, together. Together, to use Jesus’s metaphor, is how our yokes become easier and burdens lighter.  

Your Serve Well Resource

What helps clergy and laity to serve well together? We asked. You answered.

In this video, we asked North Carolina United Methodist Church clergy what helps them to flourish in their wonderfully complex calling—and asked laity how they love and care for them along the way. Their answers? Refreshingly human, sometimes profound, and often hilarious.

About Us

The Collaborative is a partnership between the Duke Clergy Health Initiative (CHI) and Duke Religion and Social Change Lab (RaSCL). CHI focuses on providing pastors with tools to improve their physical, emotional, and spiritual health, while RaSCL focuses on helping current and future faith leaders adapt to evolving times. Together, we serve those who want to serve well. Our work is made possible thanks to the generous time of our clergy and seminarian ministry partners and generous funding from The Duke Endowment. To stay informed of our latest research into ministry formation and flourishing, sign up to get our monthly Serve Well newsletter directly to your inbox.