SpokaneFāVS
A recent study by the United Methodist Board of Pension and Health Benefits showed that the a significant number of United Methodist clergy consider their jobs stressful.
Of those surveyed, 5 percent suffer from depression, 47 percent experienced hostility in their congregations and many suffer from physical conditions such as obesity (40 percent), high cholesterol (51 percent) and asthma (17 percent), according to The United Methodist Reporter.
The report also showed part-time pastors have lower stress levels, clergy at smaller churches have higher physical health risks and clergy who change appointments more frequently have higher levels of physical and emotional risks.
The data collected will be used to promote healthy practices.
Do you see similar trends in other faith traditions?
Tracy Simmons is an award winning journalist specializing in religion reporting, digital entrepreneurship and social journalism. In her 15 years on the religion beat, Simmons has tucked a notepad in her pocket and found some of her favorite stories aboard cargo ships in New Jersey, on a police chase in Albuquerque, in dusty Texas church bell towers, on the streets of New York and in tent cities in Haiti.
Simmons has worked as a multimedia journalist for newspapers across New Mexico, Texas and Connecticut. Currently she serves as the executive director of SpokaneFAVS.com, a digital journalism start-up covering religion news and commentary in Spokane, Wash. She is also a Scholarly Assistant Professor at Washington State University.
