Why Ministry Leaders Are Prone to Burnout
“How are you stressed when you only work one day a week?”
That’s a common quip (and misconception) a lot of people make about pastors. The reality is that ministry is much more than a “job” with a start and end time. A little over half (54 percent) of pastors polled reported they work more than 50 hours per week. So much unseen preparation goes into the Sunday morning service and the logistics that keep a church running, let alone what goes on throughout the rest of the week. Because of this unique lack of specific hours and the serving nature of their work, pastors and others in ministry are especially vulnerable to burnout.
A Look at Burnout
Everyone has felt pressure from the demands of work, school, and family from time to time. Our culture is no stranger to stress. But burnout goes beyond situational and everyday stress.
Burnout is defined as a state of mental, emotional, and sometimes physical exhaustion caused by prolonged or excessive stress that has not been successfully managed (WHO). Our clinical director, Dr. Matt Miller, gives us a different angle; he describes burnout as a consequence of “being someone you’re not.”
Pastors are especially prone to this, assuming roles and responsibilities imposed on them by well-meaning members of their church family. Sometimes, churchgoers elevate pastors to savior status, and they begin to unconsciously accept this role, which they, not surprisingly, fail to live up to. The danger of accepting these faulty expectations comes when one allows them to dictate their decisions in ministry. Instead of leading from their calling and love for God, they become influenced by a long list of “shoulds” and “musts.” There’s a real fear of letting people down.
Burnout Risks of Ministry Life
Another reason pastors are vulnerable to burnout is because many feel as though they’re always on call. They don’t clock out, go home, and forget about work until tomorrow. Instead, they spend a good portion of their time putting out fires and responding to crises within the flock. Much like therapists, they carry the emotional load of the hurting and broken people they shepherd, with the added responsibility of keeping confidentiality. On top of that, they often have to wear many hats and be competent in vastly different areas beyond sharing the Word, like managing church finances, maintaining a property, mediating conflicts, providing counseling, casting vision, and drawing up plans to make it a reality. When done right, ministry is a lifestyle, a calling that affects every part of pastors’ and their families’ lives.
Because they continually pour out, many pastors are surviving on a nearly empty cup. They rarely receive the care they give to others. If they’re not careful, they can get into a habit of tending to the church’s needs and neglecting their own, their spouse’s, or their children's.
In addition to this, leadership roles naturally come with some loneliness. A 2022 survey by Barna reported that 65 percent of pastors felt lonely or isolated in the past three months. Shepherds also need to be shepherded. Pastors still need the spiritual food, fellowship, and community that they provide for the people they lead. Many pastors’ relationships are one-sided, and just 22 percent of pastors regularly seek spiritual support from peers or mentors. Ministering on a deficit for too long gets exhausting and dangerous. This is where burnout begins.
Leading Well and Maintaining Health
Pastors and ministry leaders are particularly prone to burnout because they often lack the support structure that’s needed to lead well without compromising their emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being. Many pastors carry the heavy load alone and deal with pressures that outsiders don’t see. In addition to this, many pastors are bi-vocational and work additional jobs outside of the church, which stretches their time and energy even thinner. Being a leader in ministry requires busy work and heart work. Without supports in place, pastors are in danger of being depleted. You can’t pour from an empty cup, and pastors run this risk if they aren’t intentionally pursuing replenishment daily.
Even though a lot of pastors struggle, do not fret. There are ways to prevent burnout while living your calling and caring well for yourself, your family, and your church body. I’ll discuss them in the coming articles.