Ministerial Training on Consumer Culture and Volunteer Management May Prevent Burnout for Small-Church Clergy

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to investigate Nazarene small-church pastors’ perceptions of ministerial education. The issues the study addressed included managing volunteers and the consumer culture. This study involved 12 Nazarene clergy who had (1) completed the same ministerial leadership training as part of their ordination requirements, (2) pastored in the small-church setting for five or more consecutive years, and (3) experienced burnout in their assignments. The researcher themed the data, and the following themes emerged: (1) Consumer culture training is insufficient, vital, preventive; (2) People management training is inadequate, paramount, relational; (3) Pastoral burnout is contextually consumer-driven, volunteer-void. The literature indicated that small-church pastors are at a disadvantage in a consumer culture because their churches cannot compete with larger churches. The literature also indicated the necessity for leaders in nonprofit organizations and churches to understand how to manage volunteers.