In the early months of the coronavirus pandemic, many pastors and churches worried about probable financial strain as a significant side effect of unprecedented, challenging times. Now, two years later, a different strain has emerged as a concerning reality: pastor burnout.
“I’ve served as a minister throughout the pandemic, and so many things have pulled at us—from masking and vaccines to politics—and we just don’t know where to go,” says Billy Norden, retirement and financial education coordinator for the Reformed Church in America (RCA), who, until recently, co-pastored The Community, an RCA ministry in Ada, Michigan.
“The pandemic hasn’t hurt pastors financially as much as expected, but it is clear—across the board and without exception—that clergy are on the brink of burnout, if they aren’t already burned out,” he adds.
That’s why the RCA Board of Benefits Services (BOBS) pitched a proposal to Lilly Endowment Inc., for a grant that would enable BOBS to come alongside clergy and support them to get care, help them in their discernment processes, and help them in their ministry careers beyond the pandemic.
Lilly Endowment approved the pitch and awarded BOBS $250,000 in grant funds. Upon being matched by BOBS, Lilly Endowment will disburse an additional $250,000. This portion of the grant will go toward sustaining debt relief grants for pastors through BOBS’ Ministerial Excellence Fund, which aims to alleviate financial burden and debt for clergy. The total $500,000 grant is part of the third phase of Lilly Endowment’s National Initiative to Address Economic Challenges Facing Pastoral Leaders. BOBS has received grants for earlier phases of this project, which enabled the launch of the Ministerial Excellence Fund in 2019.
“The phase three grant comes at a time when BOBS’ mission to ‘provide security and support so RCA ministers [and] their families … can serve God’s church from first call through final breath’ is not only championed but executed,” says Jill Ver Steeg, RCA chief advancement officer. “Our team is partnering with churches—listening to the needs of their pastors and doing something about it.”
Half of the total $500,000 grant will be distributed to eligible applicants through clergy revitalization grants, which will enable pastors to take two or three weeks off in order to refresh for continued ministry. RCA-ordained ministers of Word and sacrament, including chaplains, and commissioned pastors are eligible to apply.
“It’s akin to a mini-sabbatical,” Norden says of what the grants will make possible for pastors. “It’s not a full renewal, but it’s enough intentional time for self-care to make a difference.”
The grant funding will cover specific expenses required for pastors’ revitalization plans, such as travel, food, and professional consulting. Applicants can design their own revitalization plan, incorporating a few required elements. BOBS is also partnering with consultants from the Leader’s Journey to develop a two- or three-week revitalization retreat, given that many pastors are weathering a great amount of decision fatigue and may not currently have the capacity to develop a personalized revitalization process on their own.
“What we want more than anything is for pastors to know they’re cared about. We want to give them resources for the healing and self-care that they need, so that everyone who receives a grant will add to the lifespan of their ministry,” says Norden. “And hopefully the churches benefit in some way from pastors getting this help. We want to build up that relationship [between churches and their pastors] so that congregations know how to care for their pastors.”
“Jesus said, ‘Come to me all you who are weary and I will give you rest.’ My prayer is that churches will engage these grants to provide the much-needed restoration, renewal, and rest for their pastors,” says Ver Steeg. “And my prayer for pastors is that, upon returning from leave, they will have a fresh sense of hope and further affirmation of their call to serve Christ’s body.”
For more information and to apply, visit the clergy revitalization grants webpage. Applications will be available and accepted beginning February 1, with a deadline of February 28. Grants will be awarded in March, with the expectation that grant recipients will use the funds for their revitalization leave within the 2022 calendar year.
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