In the wake of the Pandemic, where clergy are leaving in great numbers, a new culture of ministry is emerging that is focused on health and healing.

An Unhealthy Culture

As the world was shaken up by the COVID-19 virus, the Church was being shaken by a growing “Clergy Exodus“. Many pastors had long thought of walking away from ministry, and the Pandemic was an ideal moment to make a peaceful exit.

Despite their various reasons, those who left had one thing in common. They were worn out from an unhealthy culture that is found in numerous congregations. This culture calls for service through a constant sacrifice. A surrender that, though noble on the surface, is detrimental at heart.

Part of being a pastor entails a degree of putting Church first. After all, we are shepherds of Christ‘ flock and it comes with the territory. There are days where one must postpone things that they enjoy for important meetings. And there are nights one must leave family dinners to take emergency calls.

Nevertheless, being a pastor is not solely putting Church first. Yet, the unhealthy culture of sacrifice has led many to wrongly think that it does. From this droves of clergy have served with a self-denial that neglects self-care, and burned out they hang up their stoles while saying, “I did not sign up for this.”

A Radical Step

To be clear, the Clergy Exodus is not some way to hurt or punish the Church. In fact, most of those who choose to leave still love and want the best for her. They are really taking a radical step for health and healing, and the same is true for those who choose to remain in sanctuaries.

At the end of 2020, I considered departing from ministry. I had been drained through Pandemic outreach and was on the verge of a burnout. Following a year of exploring other options (e.g., university work) it became clear that I should stay, but I wanted to take a radical step while keeping on my stole.

Like the colleagues who hung up their stoles, I did not sign up for how things were. So, with this in mind I decided to make a list of all the things I did sign up for. The list rekindled joys that had been lost in the rigors of ministry, and I changed my goal in pastoring to pursuing them as I preached Good News.

Pursing these joys was my radical step, and they brought me to a place of health and healing in ministry. I could leave models of pastoring steeped in the unhealthy culture, and be the pastor that I felt God had called me to be. Best of all, I could be the pastor that I wanted to be, and find spaces that shared my values and welcomed my gifts.

A New Culture

When the Pandemic began to wind down, a number of clergy stated that they did not wish to go back to “normal”. To not return to the unhealthy culture that can drive one from the pulpit. For years, we had addressed this problem collectively through seminars, but this time we employed a solution that was much more individual.

Since the road to healing and health is different for every person, pastors began focusing on their specific stories and the particular things they needed. For some it was better pay and more time with their families, and for others it was a new career and more vacation days.

Of course, there are needs we share and we offer each other pointers. Still each of us are walking our individual paths to health and healing. We are building a new culture where self-denial is not burdensome. A new way of being a pastor where sacrifice does not harm well-being.

Fit Pastors

One could argue that the culture we are building is nothing new at all. If truth by told, it is basic self-care and not very radical. Nevertheless, for many pastors the idea that their well-being matters is life-changing, for the unhealthy culture is centuries-old and rewards those who follow it.

Church history is full of names that found greatness through constant sacrifice, but in the process they sacrificed what that mattered, and especially their mental and physical welfare. In the end, after faithful service, these pastors became unfit and were unable to fully thrive and grow in life and ministry.

Thankfully, the Pandemic has caused pastors today to question their forbears more seriously, and to see that Christ cares for more than His flock. He also cares for the well-being of the shepherds He has called. Therefore, all clergy should care for themselves, and do their best to get and stay fit for life and ministry.

One way that I am getting and staying fit is meeting with a therapist. It is such a joy to have a voice and a space where I can be heard and find guidance. I am also getting and staying fit by going to a gym. A non-religious space where I find good community and celebrate visible progress.

Just as Jesus cares for us, we pastors must care for ourselves. Through this we will continue to change the unhealthy culture of constant sacrifice. We will continue to create a new culture of health and healing that fosters thriving. And perhaps we might even stem the tide of the growing Clergy Exodus.