Most local-church leaders experience some stress in their ministries. The more clearly the source of that stress can be identified, the better the chance it can be handled appropriately. This tool (adapted from a stress survey developed by John Adams and used by Roy Oswald of the Alban Institute) is designed to help you measure the amount of stress you face and identify its source.
Stress rating scale
Many day-to-day working conditions are stressful. Rate each item below by circling the number to indicate whether it is never true for you; infrequently true, sometimes true, often true, or always true.
(1) Never (2) Infrequently (3) Sometimes (4) Often (5) Always
1 2 3 4 5 1. The congregation and I disagree on my role as pastor.
1 2 3 4 5 2. The governing board is unclear about what my job priorities ought to be.
1 2 3 4 5 3. The core of the congregation does not support me.
1 2 3 4 5 4. A group of people in the congregation wish I would move elsewhere.
1 2 3 4 5 5. I lack confidence in our parish decision-making process.
1 2 3 4 5 6. I must attend a meeting to get a job done.
1 2 3 4 5 7. I get feedback only when my performance is unsatisfactory.
1 2 3 4 5 8. The work I do doesn’t parallel my job description.
1 2 3 4 5 9. I feel overqualified for the work I actually do.
1 2 3 4 5 10. Our church plant is in such bad shape we need to deal with maintenance problems.
1 2 3 4 5 11. I am fighting fires rather than working according to a plan.
1 2 3 4 5 12. I have too much to do and too little time to do it.
1 2 3 4 5 13. Decisions or changes that affect me are made without my knowledge or involvement.
1 2 3 4 5 14. My governing board expects me to interrupt my work for a new priority.
1 2 3 4 5 15. I feel underqualified for the work I do.
1 2 3 4 5 16. The parish has trouble meeting its financial obligations.
1 2 3 4 5 17. The morale of the congregation is low.
1 2 3 4 5 18. I do not have enough work to do.
1 2 3 4 5 19. Opposing factions in the congregation each expect my loyalty and support.
1 2 3 4 5 20. I don’t have the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills in this job.
1 2 3 4 5 21. I have unsettled conflicts with members of the parish staff.
1 2 3 4 5 22. There is a socioeconomic/cultural gap between my congregation and its immediate neighborhood.
1 2 3 4 5 23. I am stuck with the responsibility when a volunteer does not follow through on a task.
1 2 3 4 5 24. It is difficult for me to have one day per week for just myself and my family.
1 2 3 4 5 25. My parishioners do not understand the demands of my job.
1 2 3 4 5 26. It is difficult for me to gain a clear definition of my role from my parish.
1 2 3 4 5 27. My job requires me to hire/fire/supervise personnel.
1 2 3 4 5 28. I appear unable to obtain a call to another parish.
1 2 3 4 5 29. No matter how much I do, I always wish I could do more.
1 2 3 4 5 30. I never have enough time for such things as preaching, studying, and praying.
1 2 3 4 5 31. The congregation has role expectations for my spouse.
1 2 3 4 5 32. I am blamed for the lack of attendance at Sunday worship.
1 2 3 4 5 33. I feel I can’t be myself and still be the Christian model my congregation expects.
1 2 3 4 5 34. I am blamed for the parish’s inability to meet its budget.
1 2 3 4 5 35. There is no end to the work I have to do.
1 2 3 4 5 36. When I arrive at work in the morning, I don’t have a clear picture of where to begin.
Scoring
Add the total numbers together and use the following scale as a rough measure of the level of stress you now face in your job:
36-70 minimum work stress
71-110 medium work stress
111-140 high work stress
over 140 extreme work stress (seek support of some kind)
In general, stress in ministry can be traced to the following sources:
Congregational expectations. Being expected to call on inactive members, call on sick and shut-ins, attend all committee meetings, visit parishioners in their homes, and have a rich and meaningful family life all at once can create a great deal of stress, especially if you feel your ministry gifts don’t include one or more of those tasks.
Unclear job descriptions. An unclear picture of the role of parish pastor tends to make us work harder, hoping the extra effort will cover all the bases.
Lack of pastoral care; loneliness. Except for fellow clergy, few persons understand the demands of ministry. Hence, the feeling of loneliness and isolation in the midst of meaningful work.
Economic uncertainty. Much of your economic future in the ministry depends upon your relationship with a particular parish.
Hazards of the helping professions. Burnout appears in the helping professions more profoundly than other professions.
Time demands. Clergy are on emergency call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Generally, 20 percent of their time is taken up with emergency or unexpected issues. Schedules suffer when crises continually throw you off balance.
In order to determine which of the above areas are the root of most of your ministry stress, rescore your test according to the following scheme:
___ Add the total of questions 1, 7, 13, 19, 25 and 31 for your congregational expectations stress score.
___ Add the total of questions 2, 8, 14, 20, 26 and 32 for your unclear job descriptions stress score.
___ Add the total of questions 3, 9, 15, 21, 27 and 33 for your loneliness stress score.
___ Add the total of questions 4, 10, 16, 22, 28 and 34 for your economic uncertainty stress score.
___ Add the total of questions 5, 11, 17, 23, 29 and 35 for your helping profession stress score.
___ Add the total of questions 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 for your time demands stress score.
The area where you score highest is the natural place to begin working to reduce stress. Draw on personal resources, family and friends, or professionals for help in managing the pressures.
Individual reflection
1. The stress of my work is:
___ a. too low.
___ b. manageable.
___ c. manageable but taking its toll on my body, emotional life, and relationships.
___ d. higher than desirable. I need either to reduce the stress or find other work.
___ e. much too high. I need to take radical action to get myself moved, to get help, or reduce the causes of stress.
2. The following people could help me explore these issues: ________________________________
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