Contrasting Healthy Vrs. Unhealthy Clergy

What’s the Difference

Both healthy and unhealthy clergy experience stress and challenges. The difference is how they respond to them. Let me suggest some contrasts between how healthy clergy (HC) and unhealthy clergy (UC) respond to both life and faith. None of us are completely healthy. Some of us do better in some areas than others.

1. High Education—Low Salary

HC understand that they will not get rich in the ministry.

UC resent the higher income of comparably educated people in other professions.

2. The Food We Eat

HC are tempted by fast foods, sweet drinks, & other unhealthy diets.

UC indulge in such foods in response to stress & emotional tiredness.

3. Time for Physical Exercise

HC see regular physical exercise as part of the stewardship of their bodies.

UC don’t have time to exercise given their demanding schedule.

4. Responding to Verbal Abuse

HC look behind abusive behavior and see a wounded member.

UC see such abusive behavior as a challenge to his or her own dignity.

5. Questions and Doubts

HC experience times of deep questioning and doubt.

UC are consumed by their questions and dominated by their doubts.

6. Responding to Criticism

HC listen for elements of truth in criticism but don’t take it personally.

      UC see all criticism as an attack on their personhood.

7. The Value of Play

HC have several different ways to have fun when there is time.

      UC feel guilty when they are having fun.

8. Families Often Pay a Price

HC struggle with the sacrifices that their ministry makes on their family.

UC see family needs as a burden that interferes with their ministry.

9. Having Fun with the Family

HC seek ways to have fun with their family in both small and big experiences.

UC don’t know how to play with the family even when there is time.

10. God Has Called Me to Ministry

HC recognize God’s call includes challenges and even suffering.

UC keep seeking the perfect call where everything feels right.

Ten more examples in the next blog.

Check out healthy and unhealthy tales of clergy in three volumes of Clergy Tales–Tails  amzn.to/13VO446