Ministry has never been an easy calling. There are long hours, sufficient but not especially great pay, and the responsibility not only for the souls of a congregation but often its everyday running. And with all churches generally in decline across the country, pastors often are unfairly saddled with the blame: “We would be OK if you were doing a better job.” No wonder so many rostered ministers are burning out and considering other work. Fortunately, there are lots of ways to help!

Download a study guide for “Pastoral care: Helping rostered ministers avoid burnout,” which appeared in Living Lutheran‘s June/July issue. The free, downloadable pdf contains four pages of discussion questions and a copy of the article.

Robert C. Blezard
Robert C. Blezard is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Aberdeen, Md., and editor of Living Lutheran's study guides. Previously he served as an assistant to the bishop of the Lower Susquehanna Synod.

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