Clergy Burnout: Recovering From The 70 Hour Week... and Other Self-Defeating Practices

by John Frederick Lehr

In this highly accessible book, Fred Lehr clarifies the nature and practice of clergy codependence. In short, insightful, and highly readable chapters, filled with many examples and stories from his own life and those he has counseled, Lehr identifies the typical forms codependence takes in the life and ministry of clergy: the chief-enabler, the one who keeps things functioning; the scapegoat, the one on whom everything's blamed when it goes wrong, the one who's responsible; the hero, the example, the pure and righteous one; the lost child, the one no one really knows or cares about; the rescuer, the one who saves the day, makes the visit, fixes the problem, makes everything all right again; the mascot, the cheerleader, the one who offers comic relief, brings down the tension level after a heated discussion.

160 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2005

Reviews

[Sam McBratney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really excellent intro to codependency behaviour in congregations and its effect on clergy. A must read!

[John Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good primer on clergy burnout. Heavily dependent on Myers-Briggs and seems to stretch the concept of co-dependency, but generally speaking Lehr offers a number of helpful thoughts to begin finding a healthier balance between work and life for clergy. As Lehr talks about, it's easy to think that our work as clergy is our life, our whole life, but if that attitude leads to burnout, then what good are we?

[Peter Ackerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good to read before or after one obtains "burn out" (I got it before). The first half of the work offers "Family Systems Theory" and applies that to the clergy in a parish. Taking that information and one's personality traits the author, in the work's second half look at the practices to engage or avoid in order to remain in health.

[Cliff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good premise about codependency as an issue for clergy burnout. I did not have a good reaction when first encountering this premise, but it does have merit. The book is light broad regarding application, which pushes a leader to some time of self-discovery in order to personalize it for their situation.

[Brandon Morrow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great resource

Pastors everywhere need to use this as a measuring rid for the health of their lives and ministry. Worth your time!