Abstract

ABSTRACT The present study analyses the qualitative text written on the back page of a quantitative survey concerned with resilience in ministry among ministers serving in the Church of Scotland. Of the 505 ministers who took part in the survey, 176 wrote further (sometimes detailed) comments on the back page (35% participation rate). Three main themes emerged from these comments concerned with different aspects of resilience in ministry. The first theme concerns definitions of resilience from the perspective of ministers. The second theme concerns the challenges to resilience highlighted by ministers including workload and stress, ill health and family issues, tensions with changing theology and apathy to Christianity, conflicts with congregations, and problems with wider church structures. The third theme concerns the coping strategies and support mechanisms identified by ministers as essential for resilience including personality and self-care resources, and interrelationships with family, friends, peers, the church institution, and outside agencies.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.