Clergy Coping with Despair

I was recently in a series of conversations with clergy who from various angles were talking about the sense of despair among clergy. One reported that he had had at least three conversations recently with clergy who had thought about suicide or other self-destructive actions. Another talked about his awareness of older clergy who felt they, due to the recent economic downturn, could not afford to retire. They were no longer enthusiastic about their ministry but felt it was necessary to continue. The result was that other younger clergy, who would normally have moved into those positions were being blocked. A third colleague reported his conversations with colleagues who were seeing their denominations “implode” and felt like they were having to respond to members disenchantment at the higher structures of the denomination at a time that they were getting less and less support from the denomination.

All of that raises the question of how you cope when you are feeling despair. My first suggestion is that you work against the tendency towards isolation. Despair and depression often cause one to draw in on themselves and separate themselves from community. It is only a first step but when you feel despair, it is very important that you seek out a colleague or a spiritual counselor with whom you can talk about what is happening.

Tomorrow I will explore some fundamental theological truths that need to be revisited during this time when we are threatened by despair.