Arch Hart, professor of psychology and dean of the graduate school of psychology at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, has focused much of his research and writing on the hazards of being a minister. Among his own books are Coping with Depression in the Ministry and Helping Professions and The Hidden Link Between Adrenalin and Stress, both published by Word. He recommends the following books:

Pastor as Person: Maintaining Personal Integrity in the Choices and Challenges of Ministry by Gary L. Harbaugh (Augsburg).

Many of the problems pastors experience arise when they forget they are persons. Forgetting this, they easily neglect themselves and start down the road to stress and burnout.

I appreciate this book's emphasis on becoming a whole person-in Christ. Not being taught in seminary to maintain themselves, pastors tend to down-play their legitimate human needs. They need to take care of their physical well-being. Many years of clinical experience with pastors and their ...