Search query: clergy burnout

Product: THE PREVALENCE OF CLERGY BURNOUT Burnout amongst ministers of religion across all denominations remains a serious issue, particularly in the cut and thrust of todays largely secular world. In western culture particularly, there is a clearly orchestrated and ongoing campaign to marginalize the church and its clergy. Unfortunately, this negative campaign has been assisted by numerous cases of historic institutional and clergy abuse and charges of paedophilia and associated abuse. While this may apply only to a minority of institutions, church workers and clergy, there is no doubt that the impact has been felt by guilty and innocent alike. As a result many hardworking, faithful clergy and others, have felt alienated and isolated by the understandable public backlash to this extremely horrific and regrettable situation. When this is combined with the stress and pressure of their day to day role, the possibility of burnout can for many, become inevitable. The aim of this work is to provide some understand of the origins of vocational burnout and effective options for addressing and overcoming it.

Product: Bowen family systems theory in Christian ministry: Grappling with Theory and its Application Through a Biblical Lens

Bowen Family Systems Theory in Christian Ministry: Grappling with theory and its application through a biblical lens brings together the voices of Christian leaders and workers who have engaged Bowen theory in their ministry contexts—churches, schools, workplaces, and pastoral care situations.

Christian ministry inevitably involves working with, and for, a wide range of people. And where there are people, there is a plethora of relationships. Many of these relationships bring joy, while others are fraught and frustrated. This raises questions about when and how to turn to psychological relationship theories for assistance. When we hold a high view of the Bible’s wisdom, we want to take care to ensure that secular ideas do not contradict or replace biblical guidance.

This book provides a strong intellectual consideration of where Bowen theory may be compatible with a biblical view and where it may be in tension. Additionally, it discusses the usefulness of Dr Murray Bowen’s theory to the practical aspects of working with different relationships in Christian ministries. We trust it provides rich fodder for grappling with family systems, or indeed any secular theory, as it relates to Christian ministry and biblical truth.