If you had it to do over again, would you?

10.01.10 / Uncategorized / Author: admin / Comments
Tags: Blog, Career Choice, Careers, Clergy, Dismal Statistics, Grieving Family, Health, Job, Negative Aspects, Parish Ministry, Pastors, Profession, Representative Sample, Satisfaction, Sermon, U S News, U S News And World Report

Recently, I came across an article in U.S. News and World Report which listed being a member of the clergy as one of the top 50 careers for 2010. You can read it for yourself here.

Given the rather dismal statistics about clergy health I have read elsewhere, and the number of pastors who get burned out and leave parish ministry, I was surprised by this. It also made me wonder if, given the fact that my company focuses on helping stressed out pastors find healthier ways of coping with the demands of the job, I have become too focused on the negative aspects of this profession. After all, there is great satisfaction (at least there has been for me) in doing things like comforting a dying person and their grieving family, preaching a sermon that is praised as thought-provoking and inspirational, or counseling someone during a time of crisis.

I wonder what percentage of clergy truly love their work, at least most of the time, and would gladly choose the same career if they had it all to do over again. Obviously those who choose to comment on this blog post do not constitute a statistically valid representative sample, but I’d still like to know, if you are a member of the clergy, whether or not you would make the same career choice if you had it to do over again, knowing what you know now, and why or why not. Please take a moment to share your answer by leaving a comment.

New Focus on Clergy

14.08.09 / Uncategorized / Author: admin / Comments
Tags: Authentic Life, Blog, Challenges, Churches, Clergy, Constructive Dialogue, Consultation, Conversations, Coping Strategies, Gatherings, God, Inspiration, Lead, New Focus, Parish Ministry, Pastors, Talents, Tendency

I started the Be True to Yourself website and blog as a general site, with content focused on living an authentic life.  I wanted to help people rediscover who they really are, and make the most of their God-given talents.

That is still my goal, but rather than working with the public at large I am now focusing specifically on clergy.  Because I am a pastor myself, and am also married to a pastor, I feel especially called to help other pastors cope with the demands of parish ministry in healthier ways and more fully become the people God created them to be. 

Too often, as clergy we are so focused on caring for others that we end up not taking very good care of ourselves.   Our concern for the needs of others sometimes leads us to neglect our own needs.   Thankfully, many churches are aware of this tendency, and seek to support and encourage pastors in a variety of ways.

My hope is that this blog will become a place where clergy can find inspiration to live healthy and balanced lives, enter into constructive dialogue about the unique challenges we face, and share coping strategies and other resources.  

Pastors interested in more in-depth conversations about particular struggles they are facing are encouraged to contact me for a free inital consultation.  I am also available to lead workshops at clergy gatherings or other church events.  Please let me know how I can help you!