ELCA BISHOPS TOLD OF URGENT NEED FOR HEALTH, WELLNESS OF LEADERS Oct. 20, 2006 CHICAGO (ELCA)—Citing statistics gleaned from health analysis reports, the president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Board of Pensions said the church may not be able to grow unless its professional leaders embrace a stronger health and wellness discipline. About 2,500 people took the online health risk assessment in 2006. John Kapanke said:
- "A fairly low percentage" of the church's professional leaders actually live healthy lives. "We must change our ways to keep this church viable."
- Data from the 2006 shows professional leaders have an average of 4.3 risk factors, he said. The data show that about 1.8 of the risk factors are related to "medical risk" or inherited conditions that a person cannot control.
- About 2.5 factors are lifestyle risks, lack of exercise, poor eating habits, some smoking and some excessive alcohol consumption. All of the statistics are above average, and some are significantly above average.
- In the 2006 data about 71 percent of the participants have risk factors because of poor nutrition;
- 69 percent are overweight;
- 64 percent are at risk for the consequences of high blood pressure;
- 63 percent indicate that they have poor emotional health;
- 35 percent are at risk for the consequences of lack of physical exercise; and
- 13 percent indicate they take medication for depression.
- "It gets worse," Participants in the health plan have much higher incidence of "catastrophic claims," which are claims of $25,000 or more, when compared to participants in a national database in which the ELCA participates. That database—the National Data Cooperative—includes health plan participants from the ELCA and about 37 other corporations.
- "Our catastrophic claims, as compared to others in that group, were three times higher."
- Trends in health for ELCA professional leaders are "deteriorating," which is why the Board asked for the Watson Wyatt analysis.
- Health care costs may affect the church's mission
- Kapanke emphasized the importance of a balanced lifestyle for good health and includes emotional, physical, vocational, intellectual and social/interpersonal well-being.
- "We are not making improvements," he said in the interview. "In fact we're going the other way."
- 27% of congregations from every denomination and faith community have experienced a conflict within the last two years that led some people to leave the congregations.
- 70% of the pastors fight depression on a regular basis
- 70% of pastors do not have a close friend
- 1 in 5 pastors are in the advanced stage of burnout.
- 50% of pastors surveyed are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but they have no other way to make a living
- 30% enrollment in PCUSA seminaries are Presbyterian whereas in 1970 it was 85%
- Less than 60% of seminary students at PCUSA are interested in parish ministry
- “Dropout rate” of pastors during the first five years of ministry has increased four fold in the last 30 years “Report on Clergy Recruitment and Retention to the 216th General Assembly (2004) of the Presbyterian Church.” The Board of Pension of the PC (U.S.A.). 2004.
- Stress—while ‘stress’ is experience in many profession, studies have identified particular situations that a specifically impact pastors’ feelings about their work. The leading ‘stresses’ are:
- Inadequate skills in managing what are perceived to be unrealistic expectations of the congregation.
- Unrealistic expectations of pastors enter a new call, especially their first call.
- Feeling lonely or isolated
- Various studies noted that many pastors are not caring for their physical health as well as they should.
- Mainline Protestants score lowest on positive feeling and energy
- Correlate to lower measures of health including clergy isolation and loneliness, difficulty of having a private life, being treated differently, lace of agreement (between pastor and congregation) about the role of pastors little time for relaxation or being with children; spousal resentment of time demands and salary.
