Comments for Hope for Re-Forming the ministry at http://www.pres-outlook.net , comment 1 to 1 out of 1 comments http://www.pres-outlook.net Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:39:58 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.3 http://www.pres-outlook.net/news-and-analysis/1-news-a-analysis/9072-hope-for-re-forming-the-ministry.html#comment-4781 If one references the recent works by the Alban Institute on the over-all mental, physical health of protestant clergy one will find that in all metrics or measure of over all health, clergy score lower than other professional groups; Doctors, Lawyers, and alike. Protestant clergy have higher levels of stress disordes, OCDs, ADD, and are at greater risk for subtance abuse issues than the general population. Clergy will as a group die sooner from obesity and other life-style, diet issues. Professional isolation, lack of support systems, breakdown of older structures contribute, as well as the personality types of those drawn to the profession that predisposes them to these issues. High stress/low pay, low self-esteem issues, and the general pathologies in many faith communities do not help either. I think the presbyteries need to work out their missions in this post-modern/post-christian age. Are they regulatory agencies, clergy guilds, whom or what interest do they serve? No matter how this is worked out, the place to start is to reconsider the basic polity of the church. The Scottish Kirk was designed as an Elder-centric organization. Part of putting the church back together, and clergy back together, is a rediscovery of the role and purpose of Elders in all levels of the church. Once that happens I think much will get worked out. And the church and its Clergy will be much more healthy and happy in the process. - Rev. Peter Gregory Tue, 11 Aug 2009 08:16:09 +0100