William H. Willimon, Clergy and Laity Burnout. Abingdon Press, 1989.
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LifeandLeadership.com Summary
This is one the most recognized titles on the subject. Note the scope is not limited to burnout among “professional” ministers but also others in the church who are looked to for leadership. In the first chapter, Willimon describes the factors contributing to burnout, those that are unrelated to the nature of the church (i.e. matters of life itself) and those that are related to the life of the church (e.g. the work of the church is never done, unclear standards, needy people, lack of professional respect or status, poor time management). In the next chapter, he suggests the minister should take charge in creating an environment that helps members of a congregation know the strength of a balanced life, and model this life himself. He suggests that the road through burnout is not through soft-pedaling, but through appropriate leadership challenges. In the third chapter, Finding Meaning in Ministry, he offers churches several ways to affirm and support their minister. Motivation, he says, arises from meaning, and that meaning is nurtured primarily through a strong sense of theological self-awareness as a servant of Christ, that what one does is intrinsically worthwhile. This goes back to his first chapter where he contends “that the phenomenon of dissipation and disengagement, which we commonly call burnout, may arise from a lack of meaning rather than a lack of energy.” (25) Willimon is a good shot in the arm for beleaguered ministers.
About the Author
William H. Willimon is Presiding Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the United Methodist Church, Birmingham, AL area, and Visiting Research Professor, Duke Divinity School, Durham, NC.
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