The problem of quality of life in ministry

Abstract

Studies reveal that ministers are at risk of developing high levels of stress, burnout, and depression, which are all related to low quality of life. However, studies also reveal that ministers have some of the highest levels of job satisfaction of any career group. As quality of life has implications for a number of aspects of ministry including generosity, serving, and collaboration, a better understanding of the factors impacting clergy quality of life could assist ministers, churches, and denominational entities in creating better training and support opportunities. A sample of 169 pastors of Texas Baptist Churches completed the Quality of Life Instrument (QOLI®) along with a brief questionnaire exploring features of their churches to explore any relationship between church variables and quality of life for pastors. The majority of pastors indicated an average overall quality of life score, though 14 percent indicated a low or very low quality of life rating. A significant relationship was found between serving at a church with multiple full-time church staff ministers and overall quality of life for the pastor as well as higher quality of life in the sub-scales of creativity, home, neighborhood, and community. A large social support network for the pastor also showed a significant positive relationship with overall quality of life for the pastor. No significant relationship was found between church size, bivocational service, or geographic location of the church and overall quality of life rating for the pastor.