Valerie Ling

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01/10/2026

Two recent studies show just how much pastors facing church conflict and work stress had unhappier marriages over time, while those who felt supported by their congregation had happier ones.

And spouses carry it too. Ministry wives reported stress and exhaustion at similar levels to their husbands, but were more isolated. Only about a third had four or more close friends.

The good news? Friendship, support and a healthy church culture make a real difference.

We've pulled the key findings together, plus practical ideas for pastors, spouses, congregations and leaders 👇

https://effectiveserving.com.au/what-happens-at-church-doesnt-stay-at-church-ministry-stress-and-clergy-marriages/

If this is you, our free 10-minute Tune In check is a good place to start.

References

Kansiewicz, K., Temple, M., Hoover, J., Sells, J., & Ripley, J. (2025). Well-being and help-seeking of Baptist ministers and spouses in the United States. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 54(1), 40–57.

Sohail, M. M., Lee, B.-H. J., & Proeschold-Bell, R. J. (2026). Examining marital quality within the clergy profession: The relationship between occupational stress, positive occupational factors, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Family Issues.

28/09/2026

One of the common themes in the clergy wellbeing literature is the disparity between

Clergy's and congregation's implicit models of leadership
Clergy's and congregation's implicit assumptions (and expectations) of the mission
Clergy's and congregation's differences in values alignment (clergy valuing expressions of service and community outreach, congregation valuing internal community building)

It got me thinking today about whether the conflict we see between church and clergy could be viewed, in part, by the psychological "contract" we have with each other.

I wrote about it here:

https://effectiveserving.com.au/keeping-score-from-transactional-to-mutuality-in-the-clergy-congregation-relationship/

07/09/2026

New appointments just opened for next week at Centre For Effective Living. Book online in a few clicks — no phone calls needed.

Psychologist and provisional psychologist slots available Monday to Friday, with reduced fees available for provisional psychologist sessions.

Visit effectiveliving.com.au to find a time that works for you.

02/09/2026

We have a spring offer for bible college students and their families - head to www.effectiveliving.com.au to enquire and or book in.

01/09/2026

Tell me: What is it that your congregation does for you that helps you feel cared for?

Research suggests that there is great variation in mental and physical health outcomes in clergy. One thing seems to be universal though, clergy who feel cared for by their congregation tend to report better overall health — including fewer depressive symptoms, lower BMI, and better self-rated health.

I would love to know what is it that parishioners do that makes that loving difference for you?

Source: Holleman, Anna & Eagle, David. (2023). Is There a Crisis in Clergy Health?: Reorienting Research Using a National Sample. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion. 62. 580-604. 10.1111/jssr.12859.

14/08/2026

This week we had the joy of being with the pastoral leadership team of C3 churches in training them in Mental Health First Aid. How wonderful it is to equip and be equipped to respond to the escalating mental health needs of our communities.

13/08/2026

USA - Baptist Pastors’ Well-Being, Help-Seeking – and Su***de Risk (2026 publication)

This week I have been struck by the depths of suffering some of our ministry workers and their families experience. Again - this study echoes previous findings - about half of clergy are doing ok, but the other half have varying levels of distress including suicidal and self-harm thoughts (in this study 8.6%, 36 participants). The source of distress is intimately linked to relational support and conflict. It's not just about time management, or better personal boundaries, it is also the quality of the relationships pastors have.

06/08/2026

Tice et al. (2025) surveyed 1,460 United Methodist clergy and interviewed 49 pastors to ask: what actually stresses clergy out, and does it look different depending on their mental health?

Three big buckets emerged — professional conflict (92% cite conflict with supervisors), family strain (73%), and ministry-specific pressures like political polarization (65%, jumping to 93% among the most distressed clergy).

These stressors show up across every mental health profile — including clergy who are thriving. Flourishing isn't the absence of stress. In the presence of stress, it is also whether clergy have the resources, meaning, purpose, and support to carry it.

Full Citation

Tice, L., Salgado, G., Johnston, E., Nascimento, B., Lee Bo-Hyeong, J., Proeschold-Bell, R. J., & Eagle, D. (2025). The weight of the yoke: a qualitative analysis of the stressors for clergy across a mental health continuum. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 28(2), 111-127. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2025.2536533

30/06/2026

Coming up if you are a psychologist in Sydney

Address

Sydney, NSW

Website

http://www.effectiveserving.com.au/

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The Skin Project
63 West Street
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