Life Transitions...

Musing today about life transitions. These can take many forms: empty nesting, transitions with retirement or job change, changes in health, loss of spouse, changing locations for jobs. One of the things about transitions is that they always affect our health. This is uppermost on my mind as about a third of United Methodist clergy get ready to assume new positions on July 1st.

Clergy are now one of the least healthy professionals in the U.S. This is across all denominations and through all sizes of congregations. One aspect of this dis-ease, at least in The United Methodist Church, is the need to itinerate. Moving routinely, especially with a family and children, is a very stressful endeavor. The Church Systems Task force of the UMC, just reported that the average tenure for UMC clergy was 3.1 years. This means that the average clergy person would have to move up to 10 times in their work life. No wonder they are stressed!

There is a somewhat hidden health detractor in that statistic. Each time the clergy person and the family move, they not only have to re-create friendships, they have to find new healthcare professionals. With the state of failing health, most clergy have chronic illnesses that either they or their family members are dealing with. Interruptions in care along with differences in treatment patterns, may lead to worse health outcomes. It is one of the things that clergy health researchers are investigating.

How do we as members of congregations and friends of clergy help this process? We can do it be recognizing that transitions take a toll on our clergy and their families. We can help clergy build healthy boundaries and help them enforce these. We can work with our larger church bodies to design clergy expectations to be healthier and more reasonable (who would knowingly sign on to a job that is "on" 24/7/365 for 40 years?). We can, as we are called as laity to do, share the load and take on our portion of caring for our fellow travelers. God does not intend for those "set aside" to do all the work of running the church.

So this week, be kind to yor clergy and their families. Engage in conversation witht eh leadership of your faith community on how you all can improve the life transitions for all persons. How can you address stresses in your clergy person's life that are leading to burnout and disease? Powerful questions that will lead to healthier congregations.

Peace and health,
Dan