Emotional Health of Clergy & Clergy Family Wellness Study

The Clergy Wellness Report, published in 2006, identified the emotional health of clergy as an area warranting further research as the Episcopal Church pursues the goal of wellness. The report called specifically for research on causal factors, treatment issues, strategies for alleviating stress and depression, and the ability to extrapolate from research data implications for the whole Church system.   

The Wellness Report also called for research on the dynamics and forces impacting clergy families, including identifying key areas of wellness and ways the Church might employ sustainable and strategic resources to address clergy family issues.   

The objectives of this collaborative project with CREDO Institute, Inc. are:   

• Present an accurate picture of the present state of clergy emotional health in general and in The Episcopal Church specifically, identifying not only where clergy are struggling, but also areas in which they are thriving relative to the general population.
• Present an accurate picture of the emotional wellness of clergy families in The Episcopal Church and their effect on clergy wellness.
• Assess the current status of access and utilization of resources to promote emotional wellness among Episcopal clergy and their families.
• Compile data that will facilitate the development of practical applications across all levels of The Episcopal Church to foster the emotional well-being of clergy and their families.  

Following a joint survey with the Issues of Ordained Women project titled “Called to Serve,” the data are currently undergoing analysis.