Rae Jean Proeschold-Bell - Faithful and Fractured: Responding to the Clergy Health Crisis

Ive enjoyed being called to pastoral leadership and have felt privileged to help a new generation of pastors into the vocation. But lets face it: church can be demanding, difficult, and even toxic for those who try to lead. The research reported and skillfully interpreted in Faithful and Fractured can be of great help to those of us who oversee pastors and to pastors themselves. It offers tested, proven guidance for us to remain faithful even when we are fractured by the vocation to which God has called us.

Will Willimon , Duke Divinity School; United Methodist bishop, retired; author of Pastor: The Theology and Practice of Ordained Leadership

There are plenty of books outlining how difficult the work of ministry is and the toll it takes on the men and women who do it. There are far fewer resources that point to what can be done to reverse the damage. Faithful and Fractured honestly assesses the problem and then goes on to break new ground, describing practical ways that clergy can build positive mental health to not only survive ministry but also flourish while doing it.

Matt Miofsky , lead pastor of The Gathering; author of Happy? What It Is and How to Find It

An invaluable resource for clergy and for all who care for them, especially their therapists, spiritual directors, and judicatory leaders. This book should be required reading for every seminary student. May the wisdom that is reflected in these pages become a way of life for pastors in the years ahead.

Elaine Heath , Duke Divinity School

Pastoring is a dangerous, glorious journey. Drawing on extensive research on the lives of working pastors, Proeschold-Bell and Byassee offer a life-giving path for pastors to become fully alive. Follow the deep and practical wisdom of this book and watch your life and ministry flourish.

Ken Shigematsu , pastor of Tenth Church, Vancouver, British Columbia; author of God in My Everything

Bravo! Faithful and Fractured is as important as it is urgent. Christian ministry is a high calling and a gift, yet it is beset by profound challenges and difficulties. The rigorous work of the Clergy Health Initiative, supported generously by The Duke Endowment, provides significant quantitative and qualitative data on which to base new strategies and actions. The future of ministry will be much brighter and more life giving if we pay attention to this beautifully crafted, substantive book.

L. Gregory Jones , Duke Divinity School

Faithful and Fractured makes clear a great many things about pastoral ministry that I had only vaguely understood before. I found myself nodding, smilingor, as often, grimacingwith recognition at every page. In particular, the book provides an illuminating account of the paradoxical nature of ministry, which may simultaneously deplete and strengthen, discourage and reward. Faithful and Fractured is based on thorough research but provides much more than mere analysis. It commends a way for us to be fully alive and thus to live fully to the glory of God.

Craig C. Hill , Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University

The strength of this major research initiative lies in its combination of data and narrative, social scientific rigor and theological wisdom, description and practical guidance. We now know a great deal more about the health and well-being of clergywhich encompasses survival, resilience, and flourishingand we are greatly indebted to Proeschold-Bell and Byassee.

Bishop Ken Carter , resident bishop, Florida area, the United Methodist Church

In this insightful, interesting, and informative new book, one comes to understand the wear and tear clergy experience in serving others and in answering their vocation. This readable, well-researched book provides current science to the profession of clergy work. It is a book that scholars and others need if they plan to understand that service is stressfuleven the shepherd can get lost and will need time to be refreshed.

Joseph R. Ferrari , DePaul University

This is likely the most important study to date on clergy health and sustainability. Proeschold-Bell and Byassee offer expansive research and practical wisdom for weary ministers. Im hopeful their work is helpful to current pastors and is also translated into better pathways of preparation and training for future pastors.

Chuck DeGroat , Newbigin House of Studies; licensed professional counselor, Michigan