Research Review: Clergy Health Matters
For several generations, mainline denominations have been studying the various elements and intersections of clergy health. Such research has lead to numerous clergy health initiatives from the various denominations. Such programs prompted a unique research and intervention program for Adventist clergy in 2013.
Priority one for the NAD Ministerial Association is to support pastors. This includes supporting pastors’ health. Our research and intervention program has five lofty goals.
Identify and address specific health challenges faced by clergy members.
Empower clergy to adopt healthier life practices to enhance their overall quality of life.
Improve clergy health outcomes through evidence based programming.
Provide clergy with practical, ready and easily available resources, tools, strategies, and support methods to encourage self care practices, improve their physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, financial, social and relational health and enhance their overall well-being.
Implement on-going programming, initiated with a pilot study and then expand to a wider scale across the NAD.
One particular area of research is “What Can Be Done to Save The Health of Adventist Pastors.” In a 2021 study conducted by the Institute of Church Ministry at Andrews University, participants in “three of the five focus groups, endorsed a self-help learning approach; for example, having books or videos available that pastors could seek out on their own. However, only a few participants shared that they actually engaged with self-help educational materials (beyond purchasing, but not reading books).”
Notice some actual quotes from participants:
“I like to be able to research it myself, and understand it myself, and even to some degree, make investing choices myself. I know that I'm going to live with that at the end of the day.” (FG 2)
“I do like on-demand models. That stands out to me, you know, like Adventist Learning Communities. And . . . to be honest, because our conference never references it, I never go on it, so I don't really know what is going on there to be honest. But I think in theory the idea seems good where if I wanna learn more about a certain subject, I could go to a resource library to learn more about it.” (FG 5)
Participant 1: Webinars, they work, but have them maybe twice so that it fits every schedule . . . so maybe one in the morning, one in the afternoon on different days . . . but webinars by far are easier to attend.
Participant 2: Have relevant um have relevant content there that it does not end, does not have a deadline to it. (FG 1)
As stated, pastor want relevant on-demand resources to help address self-help needs. So here’s one:
My Possible Self: Mental Health - The Mental Health App is “the leading free companion for anxiety, sleep, stress, depression & wellbeing” (Google & Apple). This app includes:
Toolkits - to help you identify behaviours and monitor progress
Tags - to help you recognise the activities, people and places that influence your mood
Mood trackers - to record how you feel and help you understand your moods
Visual and audio exercises - to help boost your mood, relax your mind or drift off to sleep
Insights - to help you understand yourself better and do more of the things you like
Journals - to record worries, emotions and actions in the moment
Motivational messages and tips - to encourage you every step of the way
Why not download the app and get started today?
This is just one example of the various research subjects and accompanying resources developed to support pastors. To see more of the research and resources, CLICK HERE. Also, stay tuned for more resources and research topics. Remember, loving your neighbor as you love yourself requires that you love yourself first. Pastors cannot serve well without living well. Let’s keep learning how to live well!
