Reasons for Clergy Divorces

Ministers who set aside time for family experience fewer marital problems.

The problem of clergy divorce has received much scholarly attention. Clergy report feeling stressed-out and over-committed, burdens that have been shown to take a frequent toll on marriages. Factors that increase the risk of marital problems include lack of social support, frequent moves and breached boundaries between professional and home life. Mitigating these risk factors are resources such as psychological, financial, family support and career services. Additionally, clergy who are engaged in active pursuits outside the ministry, such as hobbies, personal devotion and the arts, fare better.

Lack of Social Support

Clergy who lack adequate social support are at greater risk of experiencing marital problems. This supports can come from congregations (in the form of paid sabbaticals, for example), or psychological or denominational counseling. Of additional benefit is having a network of fellow clergy with whom to share grievances and concerns.

Boundaries

Clergy who make themselves constantly available or are unable to say no to new assignments and working extra hours are likely to be perceived as absent by their spouses. Breached boundaries can also occur when clergy bring problems home from work or are unable to make distinctions between the authority they possess in ministry and their personal relationships.

Congregational Conflict

Clergy responsible for congregations that are in crisis are more likely to experience stress and burnout, which can contribute to marital problems.These may be caused by declining membership, splits in the congregation over doctrine and worship, and disputes over the budget and fundraising.

Instability

Clergy who are frequently reassigned to new congregations or are unable to find full-time work are at risk for stress. Those who have young children and household debt are at even greater risk. Congregations can help mitigate these risks by reaching out to new clergy, building support networks, and connecting clergy and family members to resources in the community.

References

• "Care For Pastors: Learning From Clergy and Their Spouses," Mark McMinn, R. Lish, P. Trice, A. Root, N. Gilbert and A.Yap
• "The Availability and Importance of Denominational Support Services as Perceived by Clergy Husbands and Their Wives," Morris, Michael Lane and Patricia Blanton, Pastoral Psychology, Volume 44, Number 1, 29-44
• "Predictors of Family Functioning Among Clergy and Spouses: Influences of Social Context and Perceptions of Work-Related Stressors," Morris, Michael and Patricia Blanton, Journal of Child and Family Studies, Volume 7, Number 1, 27-41
• "BeliefWatch: Mrs. Pastor," Newsweek, April 2007, Matthew Philips