Burn-Out Indicator and Aids
“If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot” - Jeremiah 20:9
“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed” - 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
Acts 13:13 John called Mark turned back.
Moses, “I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin" - Numbers 11:14-15
“But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” - 1 Kings 19:4 (this is almost immediately after the victory over the prophets of Baal at Mt. Carmel.
Throughout history some of God’s most faithful People there have experienced times of discouragement. If we’re honest we will all admit to moments of discouragement in our lives and our ministry.
Today we seem to be experiencing somewhat of a challenge in finding ministers for all the openings. We have written about this rather extensively at https://www.thejenkinsinstitute.com/blog/2022/7/8nzecqbhmf38cfalb1hyyj1kg1tutw?rq=shortage.
We talk weekly to ministers who are frustrated in and with their work. Sometimes a guy will walk away from ministry. We are always shocked. How could one leave a work as exciting, challenging, and fulfilling as this?
Often when performance begins to slip it is the result of burnout. If you see this happening this document is to help you as a leader to investigate further with some suggestions of what can be done to help.
In this document we want to help provide both a template to spotting burnout in your ministers as well as some suggestions as to how to aid in returning them to fuller health, strength, and increased effectiveness.
The term today that for years I did not like - burnout. You may not like the term either, but remember it is simply a label/descriptor of what has gone on. Regardless of what we name it, our shared goal is to help a minister who is struggling.
Like it or not, it is real. And as shepherds who care for God’s Servants anything right that we can do to prolong a good minster’s ministry and/or increase their impact, we should consider.
Burnout can decrease a good man’s effectiveness, affect his commitment, cause a man to leave a work before it is done, lead to personal sin, cause a man to neglect his family.
First let’s consider some of the key indicators that a minister might be experiencing ministry burnout.
Our friend Dr. Jon Podein says his research has found the identifying factors to look for in Ministry Burnout:
Emotional exhaustion
Depersonalization
Lack of personal accomplishment
We will call the 3 M’s of Ministerial Burnout:
Meltdown: Emotional exhaustion. Even the smallest of conflict or distraction can send him spiraling. Things that for years he would have just gone with leave him exhausted or lashing out. You don’t understand why.
Mechanization: Depersonalization. He’s going through the motions but it is obvious that that is all he is doing. Clocking-in-clocking out. Checking all the boxes. There is no vigor to his work or his preaching. He seems to not really deeply care about those to whom he is ministering.
Missed Achievements: Lack of personal accomplishment. No longer does he seem driven to be better, to improve.
So before you fire a guy or if you feel your preacher has lost a step, consider he may just be experiencing burnout.
1. Does he seem weary all the time? Persistent exhaustion and lack of energy, a chronic weariness that does not seem to be helped by sleep, and a lack of vitality for ministry work. This chronic exhaustion is one of the most common signs that a minister is experiencing burnout.
2. Does it seem he’s lost the fire in his preaching? Loss of joy and spiritual passion in ministry activities. When all delight in ministry fades away, it can indicate burnout. You get the feeling he is pulling back from previously enjoyed ministry work.
3. Is his patience wearing thinner than ever? Is he exhibiting an increased level of impatience and frustration with church members. Burned out ministers tend to become more easily irritated. High levels of stress over an extended period not processed can lead to a short fuse. Prolonged stress is a leading cause of burnout among ministers. They carry so many burdens of others big and small.
4. Does he seem disconnected? Is he complaining about every little thing? Emotional exhaustion, cynicism, and decreased job performance are three big areas of burnout measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory.
5. Does he seem to have an increasing inability to focus or concentrate on ministry tasks? Difficulty maintaining attention and feeling like basic work is extremely challenging. Increased time-wasting: Even if the minister spends more time at the office he accomplishes less due to procrastination and decreased motivation.
6. Is he talking about quitting and feeling ineffective? Questioning one's value and impact in ministry are sometimes natural in the minister’s work where progress is sometimes hard to gage in a spiritual manner but a prolonged feeling of worthlessness or ineffectiveness should be concerning. Thoughts of quitting or finding a new vocation can indicate severe burnout.
7. Does he seem isolated and aloof. Is he spending a lot of time by himself?
It's important to note that burnout often results from a combination of these factors persisting over time, rather than just one or two symptoms. Recognizing these signs early can help ministers take steps to prevent or address burnout before it becomes severe.
Those are some of the signs of Ministerial Burnout. The bigger question is what can we as leaders do to help him? The following are key areas for preventing and addressing ministry burnout:
Spiritual Focus and Renewal: (Revival & Renewal) NOTE: It will help him to see you model this as well as encourage it.
Encourage focus on Jesus and discipleship rather than just programs
Pray with and for the minister
Remind them of Matthew 11:28-30 and God's promise of rest
Support and Community: (Reinforcement & Community)
Help build a supportive community for confiding and sharing struggles
Make meetings less combative and more caring
Show the minister they are not alone in their commitment
Rest and Self-Care:
Require use of vacation days and personal time off. Too many guys think they are just being good workers by not taking time off.
Encourage activities outside of ministry for rejuvenation. Give him time for and encourage him to have non-work related hobbies.
Implement regular breaks and time away: Weekly days off, quarterly weekends away, and annual vacations are all a part of this. And, about every 7 years I would suggest an extended time away. Or as Jerrie Barber says, a sabbatical, “In the Bible even dirt rest, and surely I’m worth more than dirt.”
Reframing Expectations:
Shift away from only numbers-based metrics
Focus on successes and positive impacts
Normalize seasons of struggle as part of ministry. Dad always said: “Churches go through peeks and valleys.”
Gradual Improvements: (Revisioning)
Encourage small, steady changes over time rather than major overhauls
Help implement incremental improvements to avoid burnout
Affirmation and Encouragement: (Rejoice in Encouragement)
Assure the minister of their worth and value
Publicly share stories of their positive impact
Help them see the meaning in their work
AS A LAST RESORT: It really might be time for him to move on. The reality is sometimes a change of scenery really does breath new energy into us. If so, be oh so careful that you not crush him and make a bad matter worse. (See post on that here: https://www.thejenkinsinstitute.com/blog/2019/11/firing-a-preacher?rq=Firing)
Let us know if we can be of any service to you. That is why The Jenkins Institute exists and is how Jeff and Dale spend the bulk of their time.
The Jenkins Institute
Jeff & Dale Jenkins
972 861-2434SPECIAL NOTE ON YOUTH MINISTERS:
Whether it is because so many of these good men are younger or the nature of their work, it seems that Youth Ministers and those who work with our young people experience higher levels of burnout than preaching ministers.
The role of youth ministry can lead to burnout in several key ways:
1. Multiple responsibilities and competencies: Youth ministers juggle various roles including teaching, counseling, event planning, and administration, which can be mentally and emotionally taxing.
2. Unrealistic expectations: Youth ministers face pressure from parents, church leadership, and even themselves to meet often unrealistic expectations, contributing to stress and burnout.
3. Lack of visible impact: Many youth ministers struggle with the feeling that they're not making a lasting difference in teenagers' lives, especially when statistics show that many youths leave the church after high school.
4. Time demands: The job often requires working evenings, weekends, and being available 24/7 for crises, making it difficult to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
5. Emotional investment: Youth ministry involves intense and prolonged emotional involvement with young people, which can lead to emotional exhaustion over time.
6. Discouragement: This is often the first precursor to burnout, where youth ministers begin to believe that things cannot or will not improve.
7. Unclear job description: Often multiple people have authority over the youth minister with differing job expectations.
8. Low pay and underappreciation: Many youth ministers face financial stress and feel their efforts are not fully appreciated.
9. Lack of responsible and trusted leadership: The number one reason youth ministers give for leaving is leadership issues.
10. Spiritual and physical exhaustion: The demands of the role can lead to both spiritual and physical fatigue, especially when ministers neglect self-care.