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Midwinter to Focus on Healthier Pastor Lifestyles
CHICAGO, IL (January 13, 2006) - Pastors of local congregations are much more
likely to die of heart disease and suffer depression than the members of
their churches. That is the finding of several studies and the reason
Galter LifeCenter, a Covenant-operated health facility in Chicago, is
taking a multi-pronged approach for helping pastors to follow a
healthier lifestyle.
This year, the LifeCenter is making a stronger push to have pastors take
advantage of health screenings during the Midwinter Conference January
30 through February 3, says Jonathan Lind, the executive director. The
entire conference is focusing on issues of faith and health. As part of
that emphasis, LifeCenter staff along with Mary Chase-Ziolek, a North
Park University professor, will lead a workshop to help make the connection.
Beyond the conference, the LifeCenter also is studying the lifestyles of
pastors and desires to work with congregations to develop better health
habits for ministers, says Lind.
Pastors' health has been declining dramatically since the 1950s when
studies found ministers to be among the healthiest professionals,
experiencing lower disease rates and longer life spans. Later studies
beginning in 1983 found Protestant clergy to have the highest overall
work-related stress of any religious professional and one of the highest
risks of heart disease of any profession.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America discovered recently that
their typical pastor had the following profile:
- A 51-year-old male with symptoms of depression
- High blood pressure and overweight with heightened risk of heart
disease and other illnesses
- Works 60-70 hours a week in a sedentary job, lacking physical
exercise and reporting considerable work-related stress
- Married with three children, one of whom expresses interest in
following their father into full-time ministry; the pastor, however,
expresses little enthusiasm for encouraging a child to do so
Another national survey by Pulpit and Pew, a research project on
pastoral leadership based at Duke Divinity School, found that 76 per
cent of clergy were either overweight or obese, compared to 61 per cent
of the general population.
The results are repeated across denominations. "Doctrinal and
theological differences aside, North American churches have in common
not only the cross and a love of Christ, but also a pastorate whose
health is fast becoming cause for concern," the report states.
Several social factors have contributed to the decline in health, says
Dr. Gwen Halaas, who has studied pastors' health and was quoted in a
2002 article in Divinity magazine, a publication of the Duke
University Divinity School:
- Fewer volunteers at churches because women who once stayed home and
helped carry out the daily tasks of running a church are now working
- Pastors now do more counseling and there is increasing demand for
this service
- Clergy salaries have not kept pace with other professions and
respect for ministers has declined
- Clergy lived closer to home and would walk home, where they would
eat a healthy lunch and dinner. "Now it's a minister who gets up in the
morning and goes all day, and if they get a chance to eat at all, it's
fast food, and if they're not sitting in their office, they're in the
car driving somewhere."
"Basically, it's become a more difficult job with fewer rewards," said
Halaas. "And all those things add to stress and take a toll on health."
Covenant ministers were not included in the recent studies, but Lind
says he believes the results would be similar. He also expresses concern
that although Covenant pastors have had access to health screenings at
reduced costs at the conference for at least 15 years, the number taking
advantage of the opportunity has declined.
Lind says he hopes that Galter will become a resource for pastors and
their congregations to help the minister live a healthier lifestyle. The
center still is developing the means to do this. To that end, the center
is making a wellness video that tracks a Covenant pastor through a
program. "We want to learn a pastor's needs," Lind says.
Pastors often feel guilty about taking time off to exercise or eat well,
Lind says. They also are afraid their congregations will think their
pastors are not working if seen riding a bike or walking through town in
the middle of the day. "Pastors don't have a 9 to 5 job," Lind says.
"Just because they're taking a walk in the middle of the day doesn't
mean they're not working."
The Midwinter health screenings will be held at the conference site the
mornings of January 30 through February 1. If a pastor has not received
a form to register for the screening, they should call John Joyce at
773-878-9936.
The screenings are offered for a $25 contribution, Lind says. The PSA
test, a screening for prostate cancer, will be available for an
additional $25. Other services are available to pastors and spouses at
the center, which is located just north of Covenant offices. To learn
more about those services, including mammograms, prostate exams and EKG
treadmill tests, contact John Joyce.
Copyright © 2008 The Evangelical Covenant Church. |
