leslie j. francis: the pastor as juggler

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


doing separate paper work for several doing separate paper work for several churcheschurches


nurturing and retaining volunteers in nurturing and retaining volunteers in several churchesseveral churches


being expected to be involved in several being expected to be involved in several communitiescommunities


giving attention to detailed matters in giving attention to detailed matters in several churchesseveral churches


allocating time between different allocating time between different communities communities


supporting fund-raising for several supporting fund-raising for several churches (46%); churches (46%);


being expected to give pastoral care in being expected to give pastoral care in several communitiesseveral communities


lacking time for personal reflectionlacking time for personal reflection


people thinking that they should do it allpeople thinking that they should do it all


allocating their personal and professional allocating their personal and professional expertise to several churchesexpertise to several churches


not having enough time to work with not having enough time to work with young adultsyoung adults


lacking opportunities for mental stimulationlacking opportunities for mental stimulation


not having enough time to work with not having enough time to work with teenagersteenagers


not having enough time to work with not having enough time to work with childrenchildren


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


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


Structural changesStructural changes

create ministry teamscreate ministry teams

go for the circuit modelgo for the circuit model

pretend all is wellpretend all is well


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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.


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


beginning the OTbeginning the OT

mission and servicemission and service

the church and other faithsthe church and other faiths


Jesus and the GospelsJesus and the Gospels

God as TrinityGod as Trinity

pastoralpastoral


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

leslie j. francis: the pastor as juggler

Spiritual

contextual

empirical

personal satisfaction

causing stress

current ministry

positive influence

rural clergy

ministry