Pastor's Page

Welcome to the Pastor's Corner
Where you can obtain resources for your church Health and Wellness events.  There is information specific for pastors and leaders. 

Contact me to answer any questions. Book me for your Health and Wellness Speaking Engagements at Booking@stephaniepollard.org

Pastor’s and Leader’s Health

“Clergy health is a significant challenge facing today’s churches, as reflected in a 2001 study of clergy health by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America”, says Mary Chase-Ziolek, director of the Center for Faith and Health and associate professor of Health Ministries.

The study found that stress, depression, obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, heart disease were significant health problems for pastors. These problems affect the whole congregation. Another national survey by Pulpit and Pew, a research project on pastoral leadership based at Duke Divinity School, found that 76 percent of clergy were either overweight or obese, compared to 61 percent of the general population.

Currently there is a high prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular stroke in African-American pastors and leaders.

Pastors and leaders in the church have a tremendous amount of responsibilities within the church: administration supervision, financial overseeing, monitoring the internal structure of the ministries within their church, and implementing community outreach events/activities.

Then there’s the personal life that each pastor and leader has at home. Unfortunately many times it is the family relationships that are compromised by the decrease of quality time spent together as a family unit. When the support system for the pastors and leaders start to diminish, the stress of “church business” becomes overwhelming. When this happens their health is compromised and illnesses become more prevalent; both physical and emotional health is affected.

It is essential that pastors and leaders make time to take care of their health and spend quality time with family, friends and loved ones. The time spent with family members should be in an environment that does not involve “church business or work”.

Daily physical activity has many benefits: helps lower blood pressure, reduces risk of heart disease, reduce weight, improves your mood, releases endorphins which are a natural relaxant, increases energy, and is a great way to have quality time with family. Drinking at least 6 glasses of water throughout the day will help you to stay hydrated and it flushes your body of toxins. Annual physicals should be scheduled and follow the instructions of the healthcare provider.

Take care of your health and wellness today so that you will have a better quality of life tomorrow!