Finnish pastors weary of work Nearly one pastor out of five has been on sick-leave due to tiredness or fatigue, according to a survay of the Finnish Church Research Institute.
Every tenth pastor feels exhausted every week.
All 1,195 respondents of the survay were members of the clergy union, and in working life. However, majority of sick-leaves had lasted less than three months. The number of sick-leaves has increased since 1994. During the last few years the chuch has been forced to cut down its personnel, even though the work load has gone up because of the state-wide recession. Moreover, the clergy does not seem to find time for days off.