We’re Not Quite Who We Think We Are?

by Dr. Steve Cappa, Clinical Director

Provocative titles, aren’t they? In our previous newsletters, we have all written about God’s wonderful provisions to us in the midst of all the changes that Marble Retreat is going through.

While God, of course, continues to wonderfully provide, I feel it is also time to begin to write about some of our experiences and impressions that come out of our time with the fine folks that seek services at Marble Retreat, all in the interest of our readership and the Church.

The “Heroes of the Church” come to Marble Retreat wounded and broken, and there are many common features of these servants. I’d like to take this opportunity to write about a few of these common features in this and subsequent newsletters.

This article is entitled, Protestant Illusions. What, on earth, am I speaking of? Allow me to clarify. . . One of the most universal, detrimental factors that clergy come to Marble for is the issue of ministerial burnout. Ministerial burnout can be seen as a broad-based term that refers to symptoms of extreme fatigue, stress, depression, discouragement, familial and marital discord and even hopelessness. Its sources are many but, to be sure, ministry is in focus with regards to these symptoms. Is there something inherent in ministry that allows such difficulties to arise in our clergy from time to time? It is my opinion that there is nothing specifically in ministry that causes burnout. Rather, it is in the people that are involved in and around ministry. It is, if you will, within the Church!

Clergy become so for many reasons, the greatest of which might be deemed as a “calling”. They feel called to the role of pastor or leader of people within the family of God. Clergy are bright, motivated and hard working folks. They are typically well-read and, to be sure, love the Lord. The majority is married and their spouses can be described in the same fashion. Their family backgrounds are as varied as those who come. Some come from highly successful and professional families, while others come from broken and extremely unhealthy histories. This is, after all, how it is in God’s Family. We all are a diverse people following Him and this is true for the leaders of the Church as well.

So, how do some clergy find themselves in burnout? Let’s talk about Martin Luther! What???

Yes, Martin Luther, the founder of the Protestant Movement. Luther (1483-1546) was destined to be a lawyer when a brush with death, at around 19-years-old, prompted him to make a vow to become a monk. Without boring you with the theological details, Luther’s principle theological view was that of justification by faith, a major tenet of the Protestant movement. The Reformation, which led to Luther’s breaking away from the Catholic Church, began around 1517 when he protested the sale of indulgences in his Ninety-five Theses. This, of course, caused great turmoil in the powerful Catholic Church and great effort was made in trying to silence Luther. It was from these early tensions that the Protestant Church was birthed.

So, what does this have to do with the topic at hand? Well, one of the most significant effects of the Reformation was the break from the Catholic Church and from the enormous power that both the Church and its priests wielded. The historic view of the priesthood is that of an intermediary between man and God. The priest was and is to be viewed as higher than mortal man and this Protestantism rejects. Emerging out of the Reformation is the biblical view of the “priesthood of all believers”. While the role of shepherds (pastors and elders) remains, there is an equal mandate for us all, as followers of Christ, to be priests (see I Peter 2:5). And this mandate brings us to my very point — based upon the reports of the clergy that come to Marble Retreat, the Church seems to still expect its leaders to be priests!

Contrary to scripture, most clergy seem to function in this illusory role acting and thinking as though they were priests, higher than mortal man! Of course, this is never part of the job description but the expectations, though covert, are clearly there. Consider this; in the six years that we have been serving at Marble Retreat, I’ve yet to find a clergy person who worked a 40-hour week! Most put in at least 50 hours per week and it’s not uncommon to hear of 70+ plus hour weeks with no days off! No wonder clergy and clergy families experience burnout! Craig Williford, President of Denver Seminary, in last May’s Commencement Address, had these words to offer future leaders in the Church:

“As a leader, you will also be the recipient of others' expectations for your life and responsibilities. Trying to please people by fulfilling the volume of their expectations can become addictive, overpowering, and can deplete your spiritual life. Living our lives to meet the expectations of others also distracts us from hearing God's voice and from following His agenda for our lives and the groups we lead.”*

It is my opinion that both the Protestant Church and its leaders blissfully participate in this error that distracts us from our intimate relationship with God. While clearly God has established his church to have shepherds, He also intended for all of us to be involved in shepherding. It is a curious and sometimes fuzzy role that we all (both laity and leaders) ought to engage in, being at one time a sheep and then a shepherd, but this is how the Church ought to function. Instead, we lay people expect our shepherds to do all the work of the Church on our behalf and, to make matters worst, we shepherds love to do it! I’d like to think that Martin Luther would be aghast at this trend in our modern churches. If I may be so bold, I’m not so sure that God is all that pleased either!

Functionally and practically speaking, the demands that are covertly placed on the clergy that come to Marble Retreat for Christian counseling are excessive. Moreover, the inability of the clergy that come to Marble Retreat to recognize this is unacceptable. Clergy are often seduced into thinking they are priests, far more powerful before God than they really are, and this leads to common natural consequences — burnout, marital discord, physical ailments, family problems, etc. They are often shocked and bewildered when confronted with this phenomenon, baffled as to how they got themselves into such a mess.

What is the antidote? Consider further President Williford’s words:

“Meditating upon God's word and hearing His voice whisper to us: ‘this is my child in whom I am well pleased’ is the only way to combat this tendency that we all inherently share. Strong, courageous and successful leadership emerges from a dedicated lifestyle of meditating upon His word. This is the fabric of our lives as leaders. The clarity of God's voice that results from living our lives in this manner releases us from the tyranny of impossible expectations and sharply focuses people's attention on God, not ourselves.”

Being people of the Word is the principle answer. Being God’s children, humble yet wise, will serve to reduce this problem. Furthermore, addressing these expectations within oneself and within our individual churches will also help. Marble Retreat will continue to serve those who come, broken and burned out from their ministry duties. However, it is my opinion that our churches and its leaders need to take a very hard look at this issue of “Protestant Illusions”, of excessive expectations of our shepherds, to help prosper the Church as a whole.

*quotes adopted from President Williford’s Commencement Address (5/15/04) and used by permission.