When we survey the Gospels, we find story after story of Jesus healing—the blind, the diseased, the paralyzed. Despite a calling to follow the Great Physician's orders, however, clergy do not present an exemplary portrait of health and wholeness. And our congregations and ministries are paying the price.

In December of 2009, the Church Systems Task Force (CSTF) released findings from its multiphase study of United Methodist clergy health. The CSTF is a joint project of the General Board of Pensions and Health Benefits (GBOPHB) and the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM). The group reviewed data from a year-long research project that included clergy data analysis, focus groups, a quantitative survey, and in-depth qualitative interviews. The CSTF will present its findings, including any recommendations for improving the health of clergy, at the 2012 General Conference.

The study identified thirteen factors that contributed to poor clergy health, ranging from the poor eating habits that accompany meetings and congregational gatherings to the avoidance of medical treatment because of the amount of time that it takes. Emotional stressors like personal finances, lack of outside interests and friendships, marital and family dissatisfaction, and anxiety over the appointment process also take a toll on pastors' physical health. (See sidebar for a complete list.)

None of the items on the list is surprising. Nor are the litany of health problems that these factors can produce. Duke Divinity School found that when comparing United Methodist clergy in North Carolina to the state's general population, the pastors had higher rates of diabetes, arthritis, asthma, high blood pressure, and obesity. Even worse, depression rates were double those of the U.S. population.^[1]

Don Rogers, Executive Director of the Virginia Conference's Pensions, Inc., commented on clergy mental health in 2006: “The clergy population as a whole consumes a tremendous amount of mental health benefits. The health insurance industry has walked away from clergy because of that. They say 'we can't handle you anymore. You're too expensive.'”^[2]

But just how much is our lack of well-being costing Annual Conferences and congregations? As health care costs rise, some conferences that have been subsidizing premiums are transitioning to plans where the local churches and pastors pay the full cost. Some, like the Baltimore-Washington Annual Conference, have found that apportioning churches for these costs is not a reasonable option for the long term. In that conference, 75 percent of plan participants are part of the “chronic risk” over-forty age group, compared to only 44 percent of the general population. Drug benefits in that conference are also twice the national average.^[3]

Annual Conferences are promoting health and wellness as a way to curb the total costs of health care among clergy. The Kansas West and Kansas East Annual Conferences, for example, recently launched the Clergy Wellness Program. Participants will attend a two-day retreat on which they will get professional guidance developing a personal wellness plan, and then maintain accountability with other clergy in the program.

The GBOPHB's Center for Health (http://www.gbophb.org/ health_welfare/centerforhealth.asp) provides multiple initiatives to encourage the shepherds of the flocks to see stewardship of one's health as a necessary task of discipleship.

The “Fit to Lead” assessment tool will give participants a tool for understanding their wellness in the areas of physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and financial health. The snapshot will take about twenty-five minutes to complete, highlighting areas for improvement.

The WebMD Health Risk Assessment is also available to give clergy their own HealthQuotient(tm), and to suggest actions toward better physical health based upon information such as lifestyle habits, stress, activity level, blood pressure, and cholesterol readings.

The Center for Health also offers resources for clergy to join Self Care Covenant Workshops, allowing the participants to interactively examine the choices they are making with regards to their physical, mental/emotional, spiritual, and social health.^[4]

Since January 2009, HealthFlex participants have had the opportunity to take part in the Virgin Healthmiles program, providing incentives of up to $300 annually for clergy who track their physical activity with a free pedometer. They can set health goals and receive rewards by doing activities that are enjoyable. Conferences that are not enrolled in HealthFlex also have the opportunity to join in the program, working through their General Board liaison.

These are just a handful of the resources available to clergy to improve our effectiveness in ministry and in life, and to lower the cost of health care for our families, conferences, and churches.

John Wesley, who wrote extensively on diet and personal health, said “Exercise, especially as the spring comes on, will be of greater service to your health than a hundred medicines.”^[5] It is certain that we cannot afford to continue sacrificing our well-being without tremendous costs to ourselves, our families, and all whom we serve.

Melissa Rudolph is pastor of Christ UMC in Frederick, Md.

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