Resiliency In Canadian Female Pastors: Work-Stress and Coping Skills
Introduction
Pastors, also commonly referred to as ministers, or clergy, entering the church ministry profession largely attribute their vocational choice to a sense of calling (Beebe, 2007; Dodd, 2012; Lee, 2010; Meek, et al., 2003). Calling within a pastoral context can be characterized as an obligation to live out a mission, set by God, to work for a purpose other than one’s own (Dodd, 2012). Evidently, regardless of the preceding foundational objective to their professional choice, studies show a high attrition rate amongst pastors, due to stress and burnout (Beebe, 2007; Dodds, 2012; Lee, 2010; Krejcir, 2007). Stress is an “event or a series of events that lead to
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Likewise, a primary purpose is to discover any coping strategies entailed contributing towards longevity in their career path. Coping strategies refer to “the specific efforts, both behavioral and psychological, that people employ to master, tolerate, reduce, or minimize stressful events” (Taylor, 1998, para. 1). In turn, an aspirational aim of this study will be to gather data, endeavouring to help promote resiliency within female pastors in the Canadian church context, through the addition of literature out of the interviewees experiences. This could provide valuable information to an existing research gap, contributing to society through an understanding of mental health factors in relation to female pastor’s, including areas such as work-stressors they experience, and coping skills utilized to thrive and promote resiliency. Within this framework of understanding, a primary research question of this study will be: What are lived experiences of female pastors in the Pentecostal Assemblies Of Canada in relation to work-stressors faced, and coping strategies utilized, fostering resilience and vocational …show more content…
(Meek et al., 2003, p. 341)
f) Are there unique challenges to being a female pastor that you feel are important to bring awareness to?
Upon completion of the study, all paper data will be destroyed in a paper shredder. Electronic data will be deleted from electronic devices, and emptied from each electronic device trash boxes as well, to ensure its full deletion.
Confidentiality
Maintaining participant confidentiality will be ensured through the safeguarding of all entrusted data and information. Participants agreeing to partake in the study will be presented with an informed consent to complete (see Appendix C). This form will highlight the aim of the study, proposed study benefits, and the potential emotional benefits and risks to the participants. Alongside those points on the informed consent, will be clear notification for participants that at any point during the interview process, for any reason, each will have the freedom to withdraw from the study. Potential risk to participants may surface out of sharing information of challenging times throughout their pastoral career, triggering emotional trauma or stress. Should this result; a specified mental health professional will be available for participants to connect with in a confidential manner if
Dr. Ken Nichols in his book “Masterpiece” said it best, “We may notice how God is changing us from the inside out, but over time, those who are watching us will be able to see the difference.” As discussed in chapter four, the direction of inclination of the approaches to cope with burnout by the pastors in the Northeast Florida was meditation, exercise, bible reading and prayer dialogue with others, study for renewing, listening to hymns, and so on. Most strategies that the African-American pastors suggested represent spiritual and conservative methods. Now, this chapter will bring to the light the practical and
The author’s purpose in writing this book is to inform and help Christian wives but specifically preacher’s wives to deal with problems in a positive and godly way without lashing out in a worldly manner. One example that we learn from the book is how to deal with adjusting to a move. As a preachers wife you will learn that a preaching job i...
What I appreciate most about this book is that people from all occupations can relate to Cordeiro’s story. Even volunteers, wives, and mothers, can experience burnout easily. While I am not a pastor and have never reached a crisis like Cordeiro, I have certainly had warning signs in my life that required attention. After years of working in the nursing field, I became a stay-at-home mom for the first time. Something I never
The IRB is an administrative body which has been established to make sure research participants' rights are protected. IRBs review all aspects of the researchers' project: the study design, the recruitment process, the participant population, the informed consent document and process, the risk/benefit ratio, privacy and confidentiality, data storage and protection, and safeguards for vulnerable participants (University of St. Francis, n.d.). In this way, participants' rights are protected because the effort is made even before the research begins. The review process ensures that participants are chosen fairly and informed adequately and the information collected during research is safeguarded through collection, use, and storage. Research using human participants is such an important part of medicine that it is imperative it is performed in a way that its intrigue is not compromised.
Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling written by Mark McMinn and published by Tyndale House in 2011 notions towards the idealization that Christian counselors need to be privy in the most recent psychological methods as well as theological theories. “This is a book about counseling processes techniques” (McMinn, 2011, p. 150). McMinn also alluded that Christian counselors benefit from having a spiritual maturity. With having these attributes counselors are better prepared to take note of prayer, Scripture, sin, confession, forgiveness, and redemption. McMinn (2011) model flows in the direction of healing while equating to a more advantageous relationship with The Lord Jesus Christ as well as with other relationships (McMinn, 2011).
All data and information gained from the participants must be kept anonymous unless full consent is given, no names can be used in a report of the study.
4. I will be obtaining an oral consent from the participant before the interview will start. They will verbally agree to have understood the information and topic for the research study and understand that their participation is
Bryant and Brunson have done a terrific job of assessing the pastoral ministry and giving sound advice, to the young or prospective pastor. The present author believes that this book should be standard in every pastor’s library. “God promises to be with his servants as they follow” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 16) The apostle Paul gave three rules to keep the pastor on the track of a good reward: “Fight the Good Fight; Finish the Race; and Keep the Faith.” (Bryant and Brunson 2007, 240-242) The greatest joy for a pastor is to, “Finish well.”
The woman given in this case study is not doing well. It is needless to say that she probably didn’t think that her life would end up this way. A woman of her age and a mother of two going through a divorce is always a stressful and complicated time. To make matters worse, this crisis in her life corresponds perfectly with a crisis in her faith life. My initial guess is that these two crises are not individual events, but rather that they are interrelated on a fundamental level. From the information given in this case study it would appear that this woman is experiencing developmental issues in two ways: her divorce and crumbling family life has thrust her into a psychosocial crisis of early adulthood, and the resulting crisis has revealed
Counseling.org. (2017). Secondary Traumatic Stress, Compassion Fatigue and Counselor Spirituality: Implications for Counselors Working with Trauma. [online] Available at: https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/Selected%20Topics/Crisis/Simpson.htm [Accessed 8 Jun.
The benefits of the short-term counseling model are the ability to start the counselee on a journey to wholeness right away; immediate steps can be taken to address the issues, and an action plan can be implemented to achieve results, when all parties are dedicated to the healing process. In all instances, I strongly encourage individuals I mentor or minister to, to create a prayer life; with the implementation of prayer life, they will deepen or develop a relationship with Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the risk to short-term counseling is possibly misjudging an issue to be short-term, when long-term counseling methods need to be implemented.
The gender gap in attendance at religious services has been narrowing as the rate of the number of women attending church declines faster than the number of men, according to a new study. Between 1972 and 1974, approximately 36 percent of women and 26 percent of men reported weekly attendance to religious services, revealing a 10-point gap, according to an analysis by the Pew Research center of the General Social Survey (GSS). The gap widened to 13 points in the mid-1980s, after which it began to shrink in the coming decade through the 90s. Through the late 1980s and 1990s, the overall weekly attendance at church services declined in the United States.. However, the rate of decline was faster among women.
The shepherd and sheep relationship is the best illustration for the relationship between pastor and parishioners. When Jesus asked Simon Peter does he love him three times and said to him “Feed my sheep”, the shepherd and flock relationship has been set. Since Jesus is our good shepherd (Jn. 10:11a), he laid out a good example for us to follow - to lay down his life for the sheep. (Jn. 10:11b) Thus, the wellness of both in and out of the parishioners should always be the concern in the pastors’ hearts. Soul care for the people is essential. Christian friendship is the foundation of Christian soul care. Pastoral ministry including preaching, teaching, and worship forms the broad context of pastoral counseling. Pastoral care is within pastoral ministry but broader than pastoral counseling. God’s love is the source and motivation. Within the pastoral care, there are spiritual direction and pastoral
Pastors will also experience personal pain as they go through ministry. This is one of the methods that God can use to see that the pastor is growing and is more mature. It also helps the pastor to identify with the pain and suffering people in his congregation may be going through. This is evident in the life of the apostle Paul and others who have faithfully served the
In our fast passed and ever changing society, personal experiences built up over time and often make life difficult to deal with over time. Everyone has their own prospective on what is important and how they will tackle various problems they face from day to day. It is the responses to our harsh environment and experiences that can often manifest into feelings such as: anxiety, resentment and possibly guilt (Crabb, 1977). It is those that have negative experiences in life that seek out the help of counselors, to better understand and change the root of those problems. Each Christian counselor must carefully research and develop a counseling model which best aligns with their education level and spiritual beliefs. The following will be a summary of the models of counseling developed by Dr. Crabb and Dr. Hawkins, addressing the strengths and weaknesses of each model. Through this theory critique a Christian counselor should be able to identify and develop a strong foundation for their counseling theory and better serve their clients while maintaining a strong spiritual foundation.