For those that do not know, Barna has been doing a “State of …” series with their surveying of churches to include State of Your Church, State of Pastors, Volume 1, State of Discipleship, and now the newest one, State of Pastors, Volume 2. If you haven’t been keeping up with them, I do not think you need to purchase all of the old documents, but this newest report is worth buying the physical copy or downloading digitally. From a mental health perspective within the Church, we want to share some essential highlights you need to see.
Pastors Are Still Struggling
While some of the worst days notes from previous surveys are during COVID and pastors have recovered some, we are still nowhere near where pastors identified with their emotional well-being in 2015.
Barna later goes on to identify a specific part of the survey:
Female pastors and younger pastors are far less likely than male pastors and older pastors to be “very satisfied” with their ministry at their current church
While the graph in the report included more than what I shared above, it should be noted that in all areas I shared, things are worse. As mental health professionals, we know that the spiritual, physical, emotional, and social parts of ourselves are all integrated. If we can improve our spiritual or physical well-being, all parts improve. So this data not only makes sense but highlights that pastors still have a lot of work to do.
Pastors On Mental Health
In the last two decades, more pastors and church leadership have begun to understand mental health better. I feel the stigma is moving towards the positive. Still, I also find it interesting that while pastors have work to do, 18% are not able to speak openly about their mental health, 15% do not feel mental health affects their role as a pastor, 38% experience some guilt about their mental health, and 26% believe their mental health is only to be between them and God.
This would not be of concern if it weren’t for the fact that nearly one in five Protestant senior pastors in the U.S. (18%) say they have contemplated self-harm or suicide within the past year. That is an alarming statistic.
Pastors Are Not Seeking Counseling
I want to be clear that professional clinical counseling is not the end-all, be-all by any means. But we just got done, says 18% of pastors have had some self-harm or suicidal ideation and that pastor well-being is down by a lot. So when I show you that 52% of pastors are not receiving ANY care for their mental health, of which 37% of them state they do not need it, and 13% say they do not have time to take care of themselves, I am concerned.
For our mental health professionals and pastors who fully support pastors going to counseling, I think it is time to step up and support our ministry leaders in this way. More to come on this.
Pastors, We Have Work To Do
I say that pastors have work to do, not to add one more thing to your plate, but because this WILL get in the way of your ministry. It may end your service in ministry or even uproot the testimony you have. Do not let Satan have his day. It is time we seek after the healing God provides, allowing the Holy Spirit to do a wonderful work within us. I pray that we can take the time, give this the importance this is due, and seek after Jesus in all areas of our lives.
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