Read it and weep…
Paul Vitello of the New York Times wrote an article that was published in Sunday’s paper called “Taking a Break from the Lord’s Work”. It’s worth reading the whole thing, but here’s a quote that stood out for me:
Clergy health studies say that many clerics have ‘boundary issues’—defined as being too easily overtaken by the urgency of other people’s needs.
Yah THINK?
KINDLE’s “under the waterline” servant leadership strands (Stewardship of Self and Stewardship of Faith) and their practices can help with church-worker burnout. AND, if you are a churchworker reading this, consider what your example in this area is modeling for congregational leaders. All servant leaders need to pay attention to their own relationship with Jesus, as well as the disciplines that care for the body and mind God has given them. And we can do that, by God’s grace!
Guilty as charged! However, I have learned, over the course of 30 years in DCE ministry, to “be fully absent” from the congregation during vacations and days off. As important as it is to teach DCEs to “be fully present” with God in worship and devotional times, we must also teach ourselves to “be fully absent” (except for dire emergencies) while on a day off or vacation.
Recently talked with a young DCE friend of mine whose congregation includes in their calls a 3 month sabbatical every 7 years. My understanding is that it is a “resting sabbatical”… so basically the called worker can structure what is resting/renewing/refreshing for them. That’s on top of the vacation & sick day stuff they get yearly. What a fabulous idea!
Guess I need to talk my congregation… been there 14 years… maybe they’ll give me 6 months!