It seems that we are in a count-down mind-set anticipating the return to our jobs and places of worship. As we anxiously anticipate this return are we in touch with the Mental Health of our congregation, our Teams, and ourselves? Let’s face the facts, we have been practicing “social distancing” while our faith is structured on community. Isolation is difficult to maintain during pandemics. Old habits and thinking can easily creep back into our minds and habits.
Consider the following; two in five young adults around the world report anxiety about important decisions (40%), uncertainty about the future (40%), a fear of failure (40%) and a pressure to be successful (36%).[1] Additional insights reveal that the majority of Pastors are “Somewhat” confident regarding their congregations needs. Yet the majority of faith leaders say they are offering one-on-one discipleship for their people. Regarding the churches leader’s perception of their own well-being during this pandemic 21% stated they are doing well which is down from 37% in a 2016 State of The Pastor Report by the Barna Group.
Let’s take a deep breath for just one minute while we are in this pandemic together! There is solid evidence of anxiety and fear in our young adult population, a majority of spiritual leaders say they offer one-on-one discipleship, yet those same leaders are “Somewhat” confident of the congregations needs, add to this the leaders own sense of well-being is decreasing. Is there a congruency of data? At a surface look the answer would be NO. However, if we consider the mental health issues for prolonged exposure to a traumatic and sudden change of American behavior and way of life, then perhaps the data is congruent.
As we prepare for a restart of our congregations we should be careful to not over-look the mental health of everyone (Leaders to attendees). It is easy to get caught up the social distancing measurements of every 3rdseat and every other row; how do we ingress and egress from the building, how do we receive offerings – do we allow everyone to touch the plate? Yet, I get it, this is a different world and we are using different descriptors of our new normal. I am convinced the elephant in the room will be the mental health of everyone. God has wired us to record everything about our daily lives. Presently our brain is sending error messages that what we are experiencing is an error. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Henry Cloud suggests that we need to reset our sense of connectedness, reset our routines, reset our sense of needing to control, and reset our mental space by increasing personal spiritual practices.[2] The Spirit of The Disciplines – Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard is still worthy reading material for such a time as this.
Shepherds Advantage provides Servant Leadership that helps people close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Shepherds Advantage closes that gap by providing Leadership Development, Keynote Speaking, and Executive Coaching.
[1] https://www.barna.com/research/mental-emotional-health-among-pastors/ – ACCESSED 23 April, 2020.
[2] Dr. Henry Cloud as sighted in an article, The Mental & Emotional Health of Pastors and Their Congregants Amid Covid-19, by David Kinnaman President of the Barna Group. April 15, 2020.
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