Stress and burnout in the priesthood

John Gerald Fath

Etd

Stress and burnout in the priesthood

Public Deposited

MLA citation style (9th ed.)

John Gerald Fath. Stress and Burnout In the Priesthood. Andover Newton Theological School. rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e9c98338-c406-47c7-84b5-e502e1b9ac1a.

APA citation style (7th ed.)

J. G. Fath. Stress and burnout in the priesthood. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e9c98338-c406-47c7-84b5-e502e1b9ac1a

Chicago citation style (CMOS 17, author-date)

John Gerald Fath. Stress and Burnout In the Priesthood. Andover Newton Theological School. https://rim.ir.atla.com/concern/etds/e9c98338-c406-47c7-84b5-e502e1b9ac1a.

Note: These citations are programmatically generated and may be incomplete.

Creator

John Gerald Fath

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Abstract

Stress and burnout are phenomena that particularly apply to the priesthood because of expectations of the church, family, society, peers and the person himself. The priest as a helping professional is often symbolically given god-like power to heal, help, guide, console, counsel and affirm. This paper analyzes the role of the priest as a professional helper called by God and examines his dealing with stressful, vocational demands. Role expectations must be integrated with capabilities; otherwise, being all things to all people usually leads to stagnation, frustration and apathy, the successive stages of burning out. The emotional demands of risking, reaching out and touching the people of God on a deep interpersonal level can lead to wholeness/holiness, or to destruction. If stress is not dealt with creatively, the body, mind and soul are dis-eased. Especially serious is stress on the heart. However, with creative power one can channel stress to yield an abundant harvest in the vineyard of the Lord. Risks involved in being the servant of servants include dying to self so that the new life of the Resurrection becomes a reality witnessed in word and deed.

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