There’s no doubt about it, the past several years have been very hard for the mainline church.
They’ve been especially hard on clergy.
Many of us have considered leaving ministry altogether.
Church budgets are tight, and many clergy fear for their jobs. In the meantime, we’re living through tumultuous times, struggling with new technology, and doing more work with fewer resources and smaller memberships.
Clergy burnout is real - many of us are exhausted, overworked, and anxious.
There is lots of advice about how to take care of ourselves in this state, but I also think it’s important to pay attention to the underlying cause:
We’re not burnt out because we’re working too hard (though that may be true…). We’re burnt out because the system is failing and we can’t hold it together all by ourselves.
I’m a huge fan - and student - of systems theory in general, and Rabbi Edwin Friedman in particular.
One of my favorite quotes from him:
Burn out doesn’t come from working too hard.
It comes from doing other people’s work for them.
That work is often emotional and spiritual.
Here are a few ways we can do our own work, in ways that help us find the JOY of ministry (or find it again).
1. DO LESS
‘If I don’t do it, who will?’
I like to call this the ‘over-functioner’s theme song’. Institutional church service has trained us well to do a lot of things that are actually other people’s jobs and a lot of things that really don’t need to get done.
Let go of what is not essential - and get really honest about what is essential. Give yourself the space and time to hear God’s voice - for yourself and for the people you lead.
Things will fall apart. Let them. Witness to what is most important.
Most clergy, when I talk with them about this, gloss it over. Of course this is true - no over-functioning.
Then the next thing out of their mouths is something like: ‘how do I get members of the congregation to take up the slack?’
YOU. DON’T.
’Getting people’ to do things is over-functioning in sheep’s clothing.
Let others worry about their own work. Let them come to you - or go to someone else - if they need specific help. It’s enough of a challenge to stay in your own lane.
2. Rest
Sabbath is a commandment (either the 3rd or 4th, depending on how you count).
It’s almost a badge of honor among clergy that we’re ‘too busy’ to take sabbath, or our days off, or vacations (leaving your number ‘just in case’ is not a vacation).
As my favorite seminary professor was fond of saying, the overall theme of the Bible is: ‘I am God - and you are not.’
We need to believe this with all our heart as the church changes drastically around us. We need to rest and know that SO much - everything, really - is in God’s hands.
I’m not into guilt - but I am into truth - so I’m going to say this as clearly and gently as I can:
Not resting is not faithful.
Not resting is having an adverse reaction on you - which is bad enough! - and also on the church in general. Exhausting yourself is not creating renewal for anyone.
3. Return
The word ‘repent’ is sometimes hard to hear, but we know it simply means ‘turn around’, or literally ‘return to your higher mind.’
Our higher mind will help us remember why it is that we are called to serving God and our neighbor. It will reconnect us with the joy of our ministry.
Returning to our own calling story, our own spiritual practice, our own deepest relationship with God will help us hear that voice that lets us know it is ok - and we are on a journey where we do not know exactly where we are going.
Nurture your own spiritual life FIRST.
Put on that oxygen mask. Then tell - and show - others how you do it. This is how others learn to deepen their own faith.
This is your ministry.
Again - do this for your own soul’s sake. This is enough. And also - people can see if you are spiritually depleted, and anything you have to say about God after that is going to come across as false.
We can’t preach or teach or lead what we don’t know intimately in our own lives.
4. Reimagine
Here’s an age-old truth bomb: we can’t keep doing the same things and expect different results.
And we can’t hold up a dying institution by the force of our wills.
What does this mean?
If the church budget is held together with tape and toothpicks and the lay leadership is pressuring you to preach on giving more, or wants you to take some would-be donors out to lunch and to ‘pastorally’ explain that the church needs their help, this is a systematic problem. You can’t change it (even if you do collect a few big checks).
Just say no.
Then consider what we can do as ministers.
We can do the deepest, most meaningful work - bearing the Scripture, sacraments, and traditions of the faith, sharing the Good News of God’s love in the world.
We can take whatever is ailing our church - or our world - and ask where God is in all of this.
We can dare to say some things aren’t working, and maybe this is an invitation to do something else.
We are in the resurrection business. Now is the time to know that we cannot save what is dying, but we can let ourselves be saved, and in this, witness to what is being born.
Personally, I don’t think there’s ever been a better time to be in ministry. The spiritual hunger out there is real - and we are the ones who’ve been called to show others where the Bread of Life is.
Don’t pass up the chance - the privilege - to do this with your time and energy because you have a committee meeting instead.
And I promise you will never be burned out .
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Hello Cathie - again I <think-write> a series of questions. Here goes.
Standing on the corner looking at a lovely 19th century church, what does the building do? Who benefits from being a part of the doing? What is the very most important thing that must be done in order to justify the doing? What is the absolute minimum number of people who accomplish the doing? Which is more important: the doers or anyone else? Is there a single specific action that the doers must absolutely accomplish to signify belonging to the doers?
Okay—enough about them. Now. What is the one most important activity the doers owe to the community? Could this or any other activity be provided as well or better by the community at large? What is the percentage of outer activity as compared to the activity devoted to activity within the walls of the church, and what percentage measure indicates a healthy church?
And in general: which is better—more community engagement over many more projects, or less engagement over more targeted and possibly better results overall?
I find yes/no decisions get folks to thinking deeper and avoiding an “all of the above” rather lazy response.
Your thoughts seem to bring out my ideas. Also my bipolar, fill the page style. Be sure to get that cup of tea before you dive in!