Weddings. Funerals. Pot-luck dinners. Church socials. Invitations to dinner in the homes of your congregation. Let’s face it, eating is a big part of the ministry.
That may explain the results of a Pulpit and Pew survey, which found that 76% of clergy were either overweight or obese, compared to 61% of the general population. But that’s only half of the story. While many ministers are losing grip on their weight, they are also one of the highest risk occupations around when it comes to overall health.
The health crisis among ministers
Studies of Methodist and Lutheran clergy have found that most ministers:
- Work more than 60 hours a week.
- Exercise less than 30 minutes a week.
- Have above-average stress, weight gain and depression.
- Are at high risk for heart disease.
- Experience regular gastro-intestinal problems.
- Report low morale or exhaustion.
Every year GuideStone provides free health screenings to ministers and messengers attending the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention. Results of the screenings regularly show that significantly more than half of individuals tested are at moderate to high risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). The most prevalent risk factors among participants are high body weight, low LDL cholesterol and low level of physical activity.
Why are ministers experiencing a greater health crisis than the average American? Perhaps it has something to do with the “overwhelmingness” of the job.1 Church work never ends. There are always visits that should be made, phone calls from distraught church members that should be taken, worship services and sermons to be prepared. When your job could be classified as 24/7, it’s difficult to make time to rest.
The result is overweight, stress and exhaustion. In other words, the call to ministry can lead directly to poor overall health. Yet the work of ministry will suffer if we are not in good enough health to maintain its nonstop schedule. Obviously, there must be a balance.
Preventive care can guard your ministry and your health
Ministry, whether performed by a vocational minister or a volunteer, requires health and stamina. And as the saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” That’s why Highmark offers information about simple measures you can take to prevent illnesses and enjoy the benefits of better health.
For an overview of preventive health services included with your health care coverage, including preventive guidelines, visit www.highmarkbcbs.com. Select the “Your Health” tab, then choose the “Learn about Preventive Care” link. You’ll find information about a preventive health network available through Highmark and the Dean Ornish program for reversing heart disease. You can also learn about advance care planning and prepare a living will.
Protecting our health and well-being should be as much of a calling as evangelism. When it comes to caring for the temple of God, those involved in the ministry should be setting the example. By guarding their energy levels and overall health through preventive lifestyles, ministers may be better resourced to impact the spiritual world. They also lead by example.
As one pastor reports, “It’s surprising how much a simple thing like weight loss can help your ministry. Now when I deliver a sermon on stewardship, I’m practicing what I preach.”2
1 Stephanie Paulsell,
Honoring the Body
2 Kenneth James, pastor, Eastwood Baptist Church, Bowling Green, Ky.