Ministry Burnout

I heard the story again last week. Another pastor announced his resignation. No moral failure. No severe crisis at the church. No major family problems. No sickness. He was simply burned out. That's how he described it. He said he had gotten to the point that he was having trouble putting one foot in front of the other.

So he quit. Without another job. His church family was stunned.

Pastoral burnout is a state of frustration and confusion caused by an inability to explain or make sense of how his or her ministry has a positive – transforming – relevant impact on his congregation and the people outside his church.

Pastors are particularly susceptible to it because it is their job to understand life and to explain it to people. Week after week pastors stand in front of crowds explaining how the Bible impacts life. But his words ring very hollow – empty – pointless when he feels as though nothing he says matters or makes a real difference. After a while he realizes that his preaching only calls for a little more morality, a little more bible study, and a little more love. His teaching doesn't transform people's lives – at least not in ways that really matter.

A pastor with ministry burnout feels like he's on a treadmill or like he's beating his head against a wall. He is involved in a lot of ministry activity. But his efforts don't accomplish much. He longs to be involved in genuine ministry but finds that the work he does often takes him further away from the ministry he is most passionate about.

A Few Signs and Symptoms of Burnout in Ministry                                                                                           

• Stress                                                                                                   
• Depression
• Insufficient sleep and rest
• Spiritual dryness
• Loss of motivation for ministry
• Feelings of isolation
• Susceptibility to temptation
• Disengaged and a lack of love with those you serve

  Ministry Burnout Statistics 

• 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches
• 80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors
• 50% are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living
• 70% said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons
• Almost 40% polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry
• 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years
• 90% of pastors said their seminary or Bible school training did only a fair to poor job preparing them for ministry
• Pastors are 35% more likely to be terminated if they work less than 50 hours weekly
• 80% of pastors believe their ministry negatively affects their families
• 80% of pastors say they do not have sufficient time to spend with their spouse
• 55% of pastors receive support and accountability from a small group
• 45.5% of pastors have experienced burnout/depression and had to take a break from ministry
• 57% of pastors do not have a regularly scheduled and implemented exercise routine

source http://www.leadershipresources.org/blog/christian-ministry-burnout-prevention-signs-statistics-recovery/