NY Times Article about Pastors

A pastor forwarded this article from NY Times to our Lutheran Brethren Seminary President, Dr. David Veum. We hope that this article will continue to open our eyes to the stress and expectations that our pastors are under at times, and help us find new ways to support them in their ministry. The latest issue of Faith & Fellowship Magazine focused on taking care of our pastors. In fact, Dr. David Veum wrote an article for it. The NY Times article focuses on the reality of burnout and health issues in today's pastors. One quote from the article reads, "They think that taking care of themselves is selfish, and that serving God means never saying no." Please pray for our pastors and their congregations. They may never reveal their stress level or depression, so as another article in our latest issue of Faith & Fellowship reads, "Pastors need to be reassured that we understand at least some of the stress they are under and that it's safe for them to ask for help" (Pastors Need Self-Care Too by Nate Larsen).

NY Times article "Taking a Break From the Lord’s Work":

The findings have surfaced with ominous regularity over the last few years, and with little notice: Members of the clergy now suffer from obesity, hypertension and depression at rates higher than most Americans. In the last decade, their use of antidepressants has risen, while their life expectancy has fallen. Many would change jobs if they could.

Public health experts who have led the studies caution that there is no simple explanation of why so many members of a profession once associated with rosy-cheeked longevity have become so unhealthy and unhappy.
Read the full article from NY TIMES >