<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>This essay explores two key themes in practical theology. First, I offer an evaluation of how ministers fared through the COVID-19 pandemic and consider its impact on life and ministry via reflection on literature as well as on my own practice as a pastoral care worker who “shepherds the shepherd.” Ministers encountered in my line of work frequently display symptoms of burnout. In exploring whether pandemic-related stresses contributed to this burnout, I found that prepandemic studies consistently identified a higher risk of burnout in ministers than people in the general population. This begged the question, why are ministers more susceptible to burnout? Within the scope of this essay, I explore this question via theological reflection.</p>
<p>Secondly, in exploring the importance of spiritual disciplines, specifically the Judeo-Christian idea of Sabbath in preventing burnout, I propose adding the idea of Sabbath rest to theological reflection models and present my rationale for how this contributes to health and flourishing in life, praxis, and theological reflection.</p>
</abstract>

This essay explores two key themes in practical theology. First, I offer an evaluation of how ministers fared through the COVID-19 pandemic and consider its impact on life and ministry via reflection on literature as well as on my own practice as a pastoral care worker who “shepherds the shepherd.” Ministers encountered in my line of work frequently display symptoms of burnout. In exploring whether pandemic-related stresses contributed to this burnout, I found that prepandemic studies consistently identified a higher risk of burnout in ministers than people in the general population. This begged the question, why are ministers more susceptible to burnout? Within the scope of this essay, I explore this question via theological reflection.
Secondly, in exploring the importance of spiritual disciplines, specifically the Judeo-Christian idea of Sabbath in preventing burnout, I propose adding the idea of Sabbath rest to theological reflection models and present my rationale for how this contributes to health and flourishing in life, praxis, and theological reflection.

Shepherding the Shepherd in the Midst of a Pandemic

Holiness

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

{"article-title":"Shepherding the Shepherd in the Midst of a Pandemic"}

This essay explores two key themes in practical theology. First, I offer an evaluation of how ministers fared through the COVID-19 pandemic and consider its...

Shepherding the Shepherd in the Midst of a Pandemic

Published Online: Apr 28, 2023

Page range: 24 - 38

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/holiness-2023-0004

Keywords
burnout prevention, shepherding, Sabbath, flourishing, theological reflection models

© 2023 Shini Abraham, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Shepherding the Shepherd in the Midst of a Pandemic

Published Online: Apr 28, 2023

Page range: 24 - 38

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/holiness-2023-0004

Keywordsburnout prevention, shepherding, Sabbath, flourishing, theological reflection models

© 2023 Shini Abraham, published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
burnout prevention, shepherding, Sabbath, flourishing, theological reflection models