The results of a study conducted in the spring and summer of 2022 of the well-being of clergy serving in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts in the wake of the COVID -19 pandemic show that: 1) denominations would benefit from promoting how more experience clergy can assist less experience clergy in self-care strategies and practices, 2) mindful self-care is imperative for the clergy and 3) denominations and local congregations must provide for and promote the self-care of the clergy. A clergy self-care protocol is offered.
Dr. Frederick (Jerry) Streets, Associate Professor at Yale University Divinity School conducted the study: How Are You “Being?” Clergy Self-Care During a Time of Anxiety and Uncertainty: A Study of Mindful Self-Care Practices and Well-Being Among Clergy: Implications for the Church and Its Future Leadership. Dr. Streets sent survey invitations to 1, 120 clergy of which 445 responded (39.7% response rate). Sixty-five percent (65%) of those responding was female. Other result findings are:
- Clergy who felt good about helping others tended to take care of themselves better and have lower risk for reducing their well-being.
- Clergy who engaged in multiple and frequent self-care strategies experienced higher well-being than that clergy who did not engage in multiple and frequent self-care strategies.
- More experienced clergy have refined tools for managing the pressures of giving and caring in spiritual care.
- A supportive family and other support systems enhanced the well-being of clergy.
- Seminaries and Divinity schools must have clergy well-being as a part of their courses subject matter such as pastoral care and counseling and in clinical training programs, student advising and mentorship opportunities as well as other means by which a seminary/divinity school education addresses the identity and spiritual formation of the clergy.
A PDF of the final report can be viewed here.
For inquires and copies of the report, please contact: Frederick.streets@yale.edu: cell: 203-687-9839.