Clergy Resilience: Accessing Supportive Resources to Balance the Impact of Role-Related Stress and Adversity

Abstract

Resilience is a helpful construct when considering how to support clergy well-being. The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about clergy resilience, specifically those resources that clergy perceived had supported their professional resilience. The study gave attention to aspects of preservice training and professional development that helped to foster clergy resilience and initiatives that clergy desired to further support their resilience. Clergy reported multiple resources that supported their resilience including supports for spiritual life, relational supports, personal aspects, and organizational practices. Spiritual dimensions of support for resilience were prominent for clergy, especially the centrality of calling to ministry, theological meaning-making, and relationship with God. Participants also revealed helpful aspects of preservice training and professional development. Aspects of preservice training included rigorous discernment and screening of their callings and the inclusion of required practices, such as spiritual direction or mentorship. Aspects of professional development included a variety of skill development opportunities, lifelong learning, conferences, and networking with peers. Participants reported their desire for initiatives that included more wellness opportunities and an increased organizational prioritization of clergy wellness.

Role-Related Stress and Adversity Impacting Christian Clergy Resilience: A Pan-Canadian Study

“…This article reports on the findings related to types of adversity clergy reported, arising from the qualitative data collection. Other study findings are reported elsewhere, including the results from the quantitative well-being and resilience scale (Clarke et al, 2022a), findings related to the resources that clergy identified as supporting their resilience (Clarke et al, 2022b), and the Clergy Resilience Model (forthcoming).…”

The Clergy Resilience Model: A Tool for Supporting Clergy Well-being

“…Furthermore, aspects related to the overarching influence of key spiritual factors on clergy resilience (Clarke, 2021; Clarke et al, 2022a) were also incorporated into the global meaning aspect of the model. In considering spiritual life supportive resources, Clarke (2021) considered some aspects of this category to have a higher-level influence on clergy resilience, through the appraisal processes and global meaning.…”

“…The Clergy Resilience Model also highlights the importance of spiritual meaning in the global appraisal system of the clergy member. Theological beliefs, calling to ministry, and partnership with God impacted how clergy interpreted adversity and how they viewed resources (Clarke, 2021, Clarke et al, 2022a, 2022b). These findings point to an appraisal system that governs the global meaning given to situational events.…”

“…Consistent with Park and Folkman (1997) the global belief system of clergy seemed to help them make sense of the situational adversity they experience. A strong calling to ministry seemed to affect motivation, hope, and confidence (Clarke, 2021; Clarke et al, 2022a). Clergy’s sense of calling to ministry was also a central part of their belief system and results in interwoven personal, professional, and religious identities (Pargament et al, 2001).…”

“…Furthermore, clerics’ relationships with God and their spiritual practices were also a key resource for clergy (Clarke et al, 2022a). Spiritual life was tied to the global meaning but also a resource that clergy accessed in times of adversity (Clarke, 2021).…”