Title
Caring for our shepherds : understanding and coping with burnout as a pastor / Thomas V. Frederick, Yvonne Thai, and Scott E. Dunbar ; foreword by Joseph Slunaker.
Summary
"Pastors play a fundamental role in churches across the globe, yet more and more are finding themselves struggling with the stress of ministry life and experiencing burnout. The consequences of pastoral burnout can be severe and impact not only individuals' physical, mental, and emotional well-being, but spillover to their families and congregations as well. Despite this increasingly common problem, the subject of pastors and their unique experiences has not been well studied. Caring for our Shepherds is written to pastors and for pastors. In this book, researchers on pastoral burnout, Thomas V. Frederick, Yvonne Thai, and Scott Dunbar answer the questions: what is pastoral or ministry burnout, how can it be guarded against, and how can we help those experiencing it? The reader will not only develop a deeper understanding for the demands of ministry, but also be provided with specific practical and spiritual frameworks to cope with those demands in ways that promote a positive and healthy mindset. Caring for our Shepherds is an excellent resource not only for those in ministry, but to those who desire to pour back into those who serve in the church." -- Page 4 of cover.
Contents
Introduction
Overview of burnout
Emotional labor and burnout
Work and family balance
Pastoral burnout
Excursus on Christian spirituality
Christian mindfulness approaches to managing burnout in the pastorate
Christian spiritual practices for managing burnout in the pastorate
Developing a plan to manage your burnout.