The Pastor as Juggler: The Pastor as Juggler: the challenge of multiple rural parishesthe challenge of multiple rural parishes
Leslie J FrancisLeslie J Francis
StructureStructure
empirical theologyempirical theology
empirical researchempirical research
psychological healthpsychological health
sources of stresssources of stress
time-related over-extensiontime-related over-extension
reflecting theologicallyreflecting theologically
practical conclusionpractical conclusion
Empirical theologyEmpirical theology
What is theology?What is theology?
the study of Godthe study of God
reflection on the experience of Godreflection on the experience of God
the systematic reflection of the people of the systematic reflection of the people of GodGod
Who does theology?Who does theology?
academics in ivory towersacademics in ivory towers
clergy in pulpitsclergy in pulpits
the people of God as a communitythe people of God as a community
Astley’s Astley’s Ordinary TheologyOrdinary Theology
What are the tools of theology?What are the tools of theology?
scripturescripture
doctrinedoctrine
reasonreason
What is empirical theology?What is empirical theology?
The sowerThe sower
Where is empirical theology Where is empirical theology rooted?rooted?
doctrine of creationdoctrine of creation
look at the natural world (plant biology)look at the natural world (plant biology)
look at social patterns (sociology)look at social patterns (sociology)
look at people (psychology)look at people (psychology)
Where is empirical theology Where is empirical theology tested?tested?
doctrine of falldoctrine of fall
doctrine of salvationdoctrine of salvation
doctrine of sanctificationdoctrine of sanctification
What does the doctrine of What does the doctrine of creation claim?creation claim?
Genesis 1:27Genesis 1:27
So God created humankind in God’s image.So God created humankind in God’s image.
In the image of God, God created them.In the image of God, God created them.
Male and female God created them.Male and female God created them.
Empirical ResearchEmpirical Researchandand
Rural ChurchRural Church
19851985Rural Anglicanism
A brave dioceseA brave diocese
historical analysishistorical analysis
questionnaire surveyquestionnaire survey
participant observationparticipant observation
History 1956 - 1982History 1956 - 1982
electoral roll 16.3% to 7.3%electoral roll 16.3% to 7.3%
baptisms 63.2% to 36.6%baptisms 63.2% to 36.6%
clergy 286 to 207clergy 286 to 207
QuestionnairesQuestionnaires
92% response rate92% response rate
benefices up to 7 churchesbenefices up to 7 churches
the absent priestthe absent priest
the unused churchthe unused church
the small congregationthe small congregation
Participant observationParticipant observation
8.30 1662 in 17 minutes8.30 1662 in 17 minutes
3.30 Solemn Evensong and Devotions 3.30 Solemn Evensong and Devotions for onefor one
Did the church want to know?Did the church want to know?
Diocesan Bishop told me not to publish itDiocesan Bishop told me not to publish it
Anonymise the dioceseAnonymise the diocese
Robert RuncieRobert Runcie
““Dr Francis has written a timely and Dr Francis has written a timely and devastating book ... scrupulously devastating book ... scrupulously research and clearly presented ... It research and clearly presented ... It deserves the widest possible readership deserves the widest possible readership and discussion.”and discussion.”
19961996Church Watch
Assessing Assessing Psychological HealthPsychological Health
The research problemThe research problem
a matter of definitiona matter of definition
a matter of measurementa matter of measurement
exploring individual differencesexploring individual differences
Individual differencesIndividual differences
personalpersonal
psychologicalpsychological
theologicaltheological
contextualcontextual
Maslach Burnout Inventory Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI)(MBI)
a sequential modela sequential model
emotional exhaustionemotional exhaustion
depersonalisationdepersonalisation
lack of personal accomplishmentlack of personal accomplishment
Modified MBIModified MBI
Anglicans (Rutledge)Anglicans (Rutledge)
Anglicans (Musson)Anglicans (Musson)
Anglicans (Randall)Anglicans (Randall)
Anglicans (Turton)Anglicans (Turton)
Catholics (Louden)Catholics (Louden)
Pentecostals (Kay)Pentecostals (Kay)
Francis Burnout Inventory (FBI)Francis Burnout Inventory (FBI)
balanced affect modelbalanced affect model
negative affect (SEEM)negative affect (SEEM)
positive affect (SIMS)positive affect (SIMS)
SEEMSEEMI feel drained by fulfilling my ministry rolesI feel drained by fulfilling my ministry roles
Fatigue and irritation are part of my daily experienceFatigue and irritation are part of my daily experience
I am invaded by sadness I can’t explainI am invaded by sadness I can’t explain
I am feeling negative or cynical about the people with whom I workI am feeling negative or cynical about the people with whom I work
I always have enthusiasm for my workI always have enthusiasm for my work
My humour has a cynical and biting toneMy humour has a cynical and biting tone
I find myself spending less and less time with those among whom I I find myself spending less and less time with those among whom I ministerminister
I have been discouraged by the lack of personal support for me hereI have been discouraged by the lack of personal support for me here
I find myself frustrated in my attempts to accomplish tasks important to I find myself frustrated in my attempts to accomplish tasks important to meme
I am less patient with those among whom I minister than I used to beI am less patient with those among whom I minister than I used to be
I am becoming less flexible in my dealings with those among whom I I am becoming less flexible in my dealings with those among whom I ministerminister
SIMSSIMSI have accomplished many worthwhile things in my current ministry I have accomplished many worthwhile things in my current ministry
I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from working with people in my I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from working with people in my current ministrycurrent ministry
I deal very effectively with the problems of the people in my current I deal very effectively with the problems of the people in my current ministryministry
I can easily understand how the people here feel about thingsI can easily understand how the people here feel about things
I feel very positive about my ministry hereI feel very positive about my ministry here
I feel that my pastoral ministry has a positive influence on people’s livesI feel that my pastoral ministry has a positive influence on people’s lives
I feel that my teaching ministry has a positive influence on people’s faithI feel that my teaching ministry has a positive influence on people’s faith
I feel that my ministry is really appreciated by peopleI feel that my ministry is really appreciated by people
I am really glad that I entered the ministryI am really glad that I entered the ministry
The ministry here gives real purpose and meaning to my lifeThe ministry here gives real purpose and meaning to my life
I gain a lot of personal satisfaction from fulfilling my functions hereI gain a lot of personal satisfaction from fulfilling my functions here
FBIFBI
Australia (NCLS)Australia (NCLS)
USA (Presbyterian Church)USA (Presbyterian Church)
AnglicansAnglicans
MethodistsMethodists
NewfrontiersNewfrontiers
Psychological factorsPsychological factors
Eysenck’s modelEysenck’s model
Extraversion (yes)Extraversion (yes)
Neuroticism (yes)Neuroticism (yes)
Psychoticism (no)Psychoticism (no)
Theological factorsTheological factors
Randall’s modelRandall’s model
catholic – evangelical (no)catholic – evangelical (no)
liberal – conservative (no)liberal – conservative (no)
charismatic - non charismatic (no)charismatic - non charismatic (no)
Contextual factors (Turton)Contextual factors (Turton)
Emotional exhaustionEmotional exhaustion
length of time in present church (no)length of time in present church (no)
number of churches (no)number of churches (no)
a curate (no)a curate (no)
a ministry team (no)a ministry team (no)
Support structuresSupport structures
companion animal (no)companion animal (no)
prayer (yes)prayer (yes)
Supervision (yes)Supervision (yes)
EnvironmentEnvironment
Francis, L. J., & Rutledge, C. J. F. (2000). Francis, L. J., & Rutledge, C. J. F. (2000). Are rural clergy in the Church of England Are rural clergy in the Church of England under greater stress? A study in empirical under greater stress? A study in empirical theology. theology. Research in the Social Scientific Research in the Social Scientific Study of ReligionStudy of Religion, , 1111, 173-191., 173-191.
Francis and Rutledge (2000)Francis and Rutledge (2000)
no difference in emotional exhaustionno difference in emotional exhaustion
no difference in depersonalisationno difference in depersonalisation
lower levels of personal accomplishmentlower levels of personal accomplishment
Sources of stressSources of stress
Sanford (1982)Sanford (1982)
job is never finishedjob is never finished
results are never clearresults are never clear
ministry can be repetitiveministry can be repetitive
dealing with expectationsdealing with expectations
always working with same peoplealways working with same people
working with people in needworking with people in need
people who come are not seeking what people who come are not seeking what ministers want to offerministers want to offer
working through a personaworking through a persona
Coate (1989)Coate (1989)
strain of caringstrain of caring
strain of relating to Godstrain of relating to God
strain of proclaimingstrain of proclaiming
strain of beingstrain of being
reluctance to admit to strainreluctance to admit to strain
Kirk and Leary (1994)Kirk and Leary (1994)
marginality in secular culturemarginality in secular culture
alienation from conflicting loyalties alienation from conflicting loyalties (parish, family, self)(parish, family, self)
social isolationsocial isolation
financefinance
Davey (1995)Davey (1995)
role conflict, ambiguity and overloadrole conflict, ambiguity and overload
career developmentcareer development
support and recognitionsupport and recognition
parsonageparsonage
van der Ven (1998)van der Ven (1998)
superficiality of contactssuperficiality of contacts
dependency of core membersdependency of core members
trying to satisfy peopletrying to satisfy people
coping with criticismcoping with criticism
time pressuretime pressure
financial pressurefinancial pressure
porous boundariesporous boundaries
Warren (2002)Warren (2002)
depressiondepression
broken marriagesbroken marriages
feelings of insecurityfeelings of insecurity
placing unrealistic expectations on placing unrealistic expectations on bishopsbishops
negative public focus on clergy’s negative public focus on clergy’s activitiesactivities
Burton and Burton (2009)Burton and Burton (2009)
transition points in ministrytransition points in ministry
doughnut principle (no boundaries)doughnut principle (no boundaries)
Fletcher (1990)Fletcher (1990)
quantitative overloadquantitative overload
time-related over-extensiontime-related over-extension
Time-relatedTime-relatedover-extensionover-extension
Christine BrewsterChristine Brewster
detailed questionnairesdetailed questionnaires
clergy responsible for 3+ rural churchesclergy responsible for 3+ rural churches
47% response47% response
722 completed722 completed
Research aims (3)Research aims (3)
develop a measuredevelop a measure
assess overall levelassess overall level
explore variationsexplore variations
personal factorspersonal factors
psychological factorspsychological factors
environmental factors (N churches)environmental factors (N churches)
Step 1Step 1
In depth interviews with clergy to capture In depth interviews with clergy to capture what they are sayingwhat they are saying
Step 2Step 2
Questionnaire survey among clergy to Questionnaire survey among clergy to quantify the reported experiencequantify the reported experience
Sample (N = 613)Sample (N = 613)
151 women, 462 men151 women, 462 men
157 under 50157 under 50
259 in 50s259 in 50s
192 in 60s192 in 60s
5 in 70s5 in 70s
ChurchesChurches
219 held 3219 held 3
164 held 4164 held 4
97 held 597 held 5
126 held 6 or more126 held 6 or more
9 did not answer9 did not answer
Introducing BISTROXIntroducing BISTROX
Brewster Index of Stress fromBrewster Index of Stress from
Time-Related Over-ExtensionTime-Related Over-Extension
16 items16 items
.90 alpha coefficient.90 alpha coefficient
Causing stress for 59%Causing stress for 59%
being unable to respond to the needs of being unable to respond to the needs of everyoneeveryone
Causing stress for 56%Causing stress for 56%
doing separate paper work for several doing separate paper work for several churcheschurches
Causing stress for 52%Causing stress for 52%
nurturing and retaining volunteers in nurturing and retaining volunteers in several churchesseveral churches
Causing stress for 51%Causing stress for 51%
being expected to be involved in several being expected to be involved in several communitiescommunities
Causing stress for 51%Causing stress for 51%
giving attention to detailed matters in giving attention to detailed matters in several churchesseveral churches
Causing stress for 46%Causing stress for 46%
allocating time between different allocating time between different communities communities
Causing stress for 46%Causing stress for 46%
supporting fund-raising for several supporting fund-raising for several churches (46%); churches (46%);
Causing stress for 45%Causing stress for 45%
being expected to give pastoral care in being expected to give pastoral care in several communitiesseveral communities
Causing stress for 45%Causing stress for 45%
lacking time for personal reflectionlacking time for personal reflection
Causing stress for 45%Causing stress for 45%
people thinking that they should do it allpeople thinking that they should do it all
Causing stress for 37%Causing stress for 37%
allocating their personal and professional allocating their personal and professional expertise to several churchesexpertise to several churches
Causing stress for 37%Causing stress for 37%
not having enough time to work with not having enough time to work with young adultsyoung adults
Causing stress for 36%Causing stress for 36%
lacking opportunities for mental stimulationlacking opportunities for mental stimulation
Causing stress for 36%Causing stress for 36%
not having enough time to work with not having enough time to work with teenagersteenagers
Causing stress for 32%Causing stress for 32%
not having enough time to work with not having enough time to work with childrenchildren
Causing stress for 31%Causing stress for 31%
getting to know people in several churchesgetting to know people in several churches
Personal factorsPersonal factors
sex .08*sex .08*
age -.17***age -.17***
Psychological factorsPsychological factors
extraversion -.14***extraversion -.14***
neuroticism .38***neuroticism .38***
psychoticism -.04psychoticism -.04
Theological factorsTheological factors
Evangelical -.01Evangelical -.01
Conservative .00Conservative .00
Charismatic .00Charismatic .00
Contextual factorsContextual factors
N churches .00N churches .00
Reflecting theologicallyReflecting theologically
Aim 1Aim 1
develop a measuredevelop a measure
a set of experiences linking togethera set of experiences linking together
Aim 2Aim 2
assess overall levelassess overall level
too high for comforttoo high for comfort
Aim 3Aim 3
explore variationexplore variation
sex and age mattersex and age matter
personality matterspersonality matters
N churches do not matterN churches do not matter
Strategy 1Strategy 1
SelectionSelection
Some will survive betterSome will survive better
Strategy 2Strategy 2
Professional supportProfessional support
support the vulnerablesupport the vulnerable
enhance sense of accomplishmentenhance sense of accomplishment
commend supervisioncommend supervision
keep the prayer life goingkeep the prayer life going
forget the companion animalsforget the companion animals
Strategy 3Strategy 3
Structural changesStructural changes
create ministry teamscreate ministry teams
go for the circuit modelgo for the circuit model
pretend all is wellpretend all is well
Strategy 4Strategy 4
Identify the theological problemIdentify the theological problem
the clue is 3 churches are already too the clue is 3 churches are already too manymany
Anglican parochial ministryAnglican parochial ministry
theologically rootedtheologically rooted
pastoral (to all)pastoral (to all)
incarnational (residential)incarnational (residential)
nurturing in word and sacramentnurturing in word and sacrament
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
The responses to the survey leave no The responses to the survey leave no doubt that this notion of time-related doubt that this notion of time-related over-extension taps deeply into the over-extension taps deeply into the experiences of rural clergy and helps experiences of rural clergy and helps them to articulate the factors that them to articulate the factors that generate pressures within their lives.generate pressures within their lives.
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
They are torn by trying to share They are torn by trying to share themselves between different themselves between different communities. At the heart of the classic communities. At the heart of the classic model of Anglican parochial ministry was model of Anglican parochial ministry was the incarnational theology of the resident the incarnational theology of the resident priest living among and sharing in the priest living among and sharing in the lives of the people of the community.lives of the people of the community.
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
Here are people who feel that more Here are people who feel that more demands are being placed on them than demands are being placed on them than they are able to meet. They find that they they are able to meet. They find that they do not have time to fulfil the ministry that do not have time to fulfil the ministry that they would find rewarding.they would find rewarding.
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
In the multi-parish benefice this can no In the multi-parish benefice this can no longer be the case. In the new situation longer be the case. In the new situation the priest can only pretend to be an the priest can only pretend to be an indigenous part of the community, and indigenous part of the community, and pretence is profoundly unsatisfactory.pretence is profoundly unsatisfactory.
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
The experience of stress resulting from The experience of stress resulting from time-related over-extension is indicative time-related over-extension is indicative of a deeper malaise in the rural church in of a deeper malaise in the rural church in which changed practice has not been which changed practice has not been resourced by a theology capable of resourced by a theology capable of making the new practice coherent.making the new practice coherent.
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
The number of churches in the benefice The number of churches in the benefice is largely irrelevant. The benefice of three is largely irrelevant. The benefice of three churches has already over-extended the churches has already over-extended the priest, and the adding of further churches priest, and the adding of further churches does not make matters much worse.does not make matters much worse.
Learning from experienceLearning from experience
In one sense, this might sound like good In one sense, this might sound like good news to the church strategists who are news to the church strategists who are planning ever-larger benefices. In planning ever-larger benefices. In another sense, however, this may be another sense, however, this may be very bad news if the threshold of very bad news if the threshold of acceptability was already passed with acceptability was already passed with three churches.three churches.
Practical conclusionsPractical conclusions
Theological affirmationTheological affirmation
Reaffirm a theology that isReaffirm a theology that is
episcopal and diocesanepiscopal and diocesan
parochial and pastoralparochial and pastoral
incarnational and catholicincarnational and catholic
nurturing in word and sacramentnurturing in word and sacrament
Pastoral provisionPastoral provision
retain and re-establish parsonagesretain and re-establish parsonages
recruit and train deployable NSM ministryrecruit and train deployable NSM ministry
Rediscover discipleshipRediscover discipleship
the Bangor Exploring Faith Programmethe Bangor Exploring Faith Programme
BA in Theology for Discipleship and BA in Theology for Discipleship and MinistryMinistry
3 x 20 credit modules per year3 x 20 credit modules per year
local education groupslocal education groups
facilitatorsfacilitators
Curriculum: year 1Curriculum: year 1
beginning the NTbeginning the NT
encountering God’s Worldencountering God’s World
call and vocationcall and vocation
Curriculum: year 2Curriculum: year 2
beginning the OTbeginning the OT
mission and servicemission and service
the church and other faithsthe church and other faiths
Curriculum: year 3Curriculum: year 3
Jesus and the GospelsJesus and the Gospels
God as TrinityGod as Trinity
pastoralpastoral
Curriculum: year 4Curriculum: year 4
Paul for todayPaul for today
WorshipWorship
Christian ethicsChristian ethics
AssessmentAssessment
reflections from local groups (1500 reflections from local groups (1500 words)words)
essay testing academic outcomes (1500 essay testing academic outcomes (1500 words)words)
application (1500 words)application (1500 words)
The Pastor as Juggler: The Pastor as Juggler: the challenge of multiple rural parishesthe challenge of multiple rural parishes
Leslie J FrancisLeslie J Francis