Burnout in Churches and Christian Faith-Based Organisations

This complexity is also found within Churches but is arguably less clear and even more complex, for
example between:
• Elders who need to operate as a team.
• Members of the Ministry Team.
• The Minister and Elders.
• Elders and the Ministry Team.
• Elders and the congregation.
• The Ministry Team and the congregation.
• Individual members of the congregation and groups within.
The relationship web extends far further to include individual members of the local community, other
faith groups, community organisations, hall hirers, funeral directors and other suppliers of goods and
services. Churches that are part of a wider body will also be in relationship with a hierarchy above
them.
Just one poor quality relationship can be a significant source of stress for leaders as well as for staff
and volunteers. Leaders experience the stress of being in relationships that are not working well, to
which can be added the stressful fallout of poor relationships elsewhere within their organisation.
The impact of some poor relationships will be little more than irritating, while others pose a serious
threat to the organisation, A few relationships are critical such as between two Board Directors or a
Chief Executive and Chair of Trustees, Minister and Elders, etc. Stress caused by relationship problems
may be due to several reasons, including:
• A felt need to reconcile or hold in tension different interest groups.
• A concern that the views and interests of some individuals and groups is not being heard.
• A concern that colleagues or members of an organisation are being hurt by others.
• Game-playing and inappropriate use of power playing out in meetings and other contexts.
• Holding multiple confidences at the same time.
• A felt expectation that you should be able to deal with outbreaks of dysfunctional behaviour.
• A sense of sadness and failure when relationship problems cannot be resolved.
• Frustration that relationships between people of faith can be problematic.
• Accepting that sometimes it is impossible with relationship problems to get a good outcome
for yourself, for others who are directly involved and for spectators.
Shared beliefs and a strong sense of common endeavour do not themselves guarantee that a group
of individuals will get on. In other respects, group members may be diverse, something which is
potentially valuable, but often plays out in ways that cause stress.
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