Presbyterians Today recently released a featured article discussing the impact of isolation and loneliness on burnout among Presbyterian clergy, particularly in Mission Presbytery, a large rural area in central Texas. The piece, written by Fred Tangeman, highlights the challenges faced by pastors in this region, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
As highlighted in the article, a 2021 PC(USA) report on minister wellbeing revealed that 32% of pastors expressed concern or significant concern regarding isolation. Given the current discussions around the high number of pastors leaving ministry, these statistics, along with the stories that accompany them, deserve careful consideration.
In conjunction with the featured article, Managing Editor Layton Williams Berkes will host a live online panel discussion with Tangeman and the three featured pastors: Monica Thompson Smith, Maria Vargas-Torres, and Jasiel Hernandez Garcia.
The virtual discussion will be broadcast via the Presbyterians Today Facebook page at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, February 29. Williams Berkes hopes the conversation will go further into depth about the pastors’ own experiences, as well as tackling how congregations, mid councils, and the national denomination can support struggling pastors, and how the church can support anyone dealing with loneliness and isolation.
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