Statewide survey indicates health

STATEWIDE SURVEY INDICATES HEALTH LEVELS OF TEXAS PASTORS

By Kalie Lowrie, Associate Director of Communications | News Director

Results from a statewide Pastor Health Survey conducted by the Texas Baptists Church Health Initiative of San Antonio provided valuable information on the health of pastors in Texas. Five hundred and sixty pastors affi liated with Texas Baptists participated in the confi dential survey, a 13 percent response rate. The survey explored spiritual, physical, work, mental, fi nancial and relational health.

After reviewing the results, Ben Hanna, director of the Church Health Initiative met with the Church Health Initiative Team to determine what key issues related to pastoral health could be addressed through current and future convention resources. The team is composed of Baptist institution representatives, local pastors, health experts and convention staff .

Resources to address health needs:

• The Whole Pastor blog by Pastor

Bobby Contreras and other pastoral contributors • A comprehensive health pilot program in the San Antonio area that will shed light on the specifi c health needs and solutions for pastors statewide “The results from this survey will serve as a map that will guide our eff orts to positively impact the health of our pastors,” said Hanna. “While we have a clearer picture of where we are, the next question is, ‘Where do we go from here?’ The Church Health Initiative is working to provide a clear path for holistic health.”

The Church Health Initiative Team identifi ed four key areas and resources for pastors to be developed in the coming months which included physical, mental, fi nancial and relational.

The Church Health Initiative of San Antonio is made possible through a grant from the Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio. It is strengthened by partnerships with organizations that provide resources to churches including the Baptist Credit Union, the San Antonio Baptist Association, Guidestone and

Findings Include:

The average pastor was 5’10½” and weighed 214 pounds. Only 14% qualifi ed as having a healthy Body Mass Index (BMI), while 46% were considered obese, including 6% who qualifi ed as extremely obese.

Young, white pastors were more likely than others to have considered looking for another job or leaving the ministry entirely.

27% expressed the presence of critical fi nancial issues.

S M T W TH F S

The average pastor estimated spending 4.1 hours per week (or 35 minutes per day) in personal prayer. Nearly three out of 10 pastors pray fewer than two hours per week.

20% were experiencing at least one critical issue in the work-life category.

STCH Ministries. • Videos from Texas Baptists Counseling Services to address burnout and chronic stress

• Counseling Services for ministers and their families through the

Texas Baptists Counseling Services

Network and STCH Ministries

• Grants and fi nancial training for ministers through Texas Baptists

Center for Financial Health • For relational health, in partnership with Christian Unity Ministries, share “The 5 Principles of Unity” in an online format

To read the full report and to learn more about the Church

Health Initiative, visit txb.org/chi.