"Although they would describe it as the labor of love, pastoral work is definitely labor-which can lead to stress, anxiety, and burnout, just like in so many other professions. Although we acknowledge and celebrate pastoral work in October, pastors' jobs are emotionally and spiritually overwhelming all year long. Thankfully, there are ways to achieve physical and spiritual refreshment, as research explains."
"Regina Trammel et al. (2025) investigated the impact of Christian mindfulness on pastoral burnout.[i] Noting that burnout occurs in pastoral ministry due to a plethora of stressors and roles, they began by recognizing the benefit that mindfulness-based interventions can have on stress management and emotional regulation. In their study, they tested the effectiveness of a six-week Christian mindfulness intervention consisting of 10 audio-based modules delivered by email."
October is Pastor Appreciation Month, and congregations rely on pastoral leadership for guidance, grace, and community grounding. Pastoral work involves long hours, low salaries, and a range of emotional and spiritual demands that can cause stress, anxiety, and burnout. A six-week Christian mindfulness program delivered through ten audio modules by email improved mindfulness among pastors, supporting stress management and emotional regulation. Improved mindfulness enhanced motivation by emphasizing vocational purpose and helped pastors juggle defined and undefined roles, reducing potential emotional exhaustion and offering pathways to physical and spiritual refreshment.
Read at Psychology Today
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