Forgive the intrusion of a lay voice, but I have had a number of friends/close acquaintances among the clergy, and I am widely read on religio-social issues in Godzone, so feel mildly qualified to comment as an observer.

Firstly, I would not expect - as a general rule - problems in the U.S.A. to be reflected to the same degree in Australia. An American cleric will routinely have more parishioners to look after, and a higher percentage of active (or at least vocal) persons to attend to. I suspect also, that the intensity of those persons is likely to add stresses of a more extreme nature than most of our parishes would present.

Please note, I am talking in generalities and assume exceptions. But on the whole I think that a comparable survey would reveal an existing, though lesser, problem here.

Second, there are many (including some well-publicised) cases of Australian clergy succumbing to the stresses of the task (and I am excluding moral or theological lapses of judgement). There are examples of clergy treated for mental health problems, or who have left the vocation, or switched parishes - even denominations - as a result of perceived pressures. I suspect (though these are less apparent) that cases will be found also among the para-vocationals (those in support roles such as deacons, lay-preachers, etc.).

Yet, for each problem that can be identified, there are examples of clergy who thrive on the self-same factor. Some achieve a higher sense of achievement and satisfaction in situations that would have crippled others. (Just as priests have left the Roman Catholic church because celibacy is a problem, others find their place there.)

I think of one parish I know where the pastor left feeling weighed down and dissatisfied, to be replaced by another pastor who blossomed and thrived. Interestingly, pastor one went on to have a great deal of reward from his next posting.

I agree that having some other diversion or interest may assist many, though I think it is trivialising to call this a hobby. It might be wood-carving, it might be listening to Wagner, it might be singing Victorian parlour ballads, but it might also be meditation or even having a family life.

To me the problem is a management problem, and I apologise in advance to any bishop who might be listening. An individual will have his/her own personality, and that will be more or less in tune with the needs of different vocational settings. It is a matter of finding the right parish or other setting for each individual, and achieving an appropriate resolution for problems that may generate unacceptable stress.

Thanks for listening,

Ray Cotsell