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. 2024 Feb;63(1):685-703.
doi: 10.1007/s10943-023-01901-9. Epub 2023 Aug 30.

Black Pastors' Experiences of Occupational and Life Stress During COVID-19 in the USA

Robert C Rogers  1   2 , Taunya M Tinsley  3   4
Affiliations

Black Pastors' Experiences of Occupational and Life Stress During COVID-19 in the USA

Robert C Rogers et al. J Relig Health. 2024 Feb.

Abstract

This study sought to identify the occupational stressors Black pastors experience, who serve in Black Church denominations and Black nondenominational churches. A total of 218 pastors completed the survey out of 2786 for a response rate of 10.1%. Black pastors identified their most challenging stressors as member dynamics, financial stress, leading a church to fulfill its mission, and pastor's workload. Black women pastors faced the additional stressor of having their pastoral leadership challenged by male congregants. Black pastors faced more stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic including church closures, transitioning to virtual services, unexpected deaths, and an increased workload with 72.5% of pastors reporting moderate to extreme stress levels. Approximately 77% of pastors acknowledged experiencing from moderate to extreme stress levels during social protests for the deaths of Black people by law enforcement. Black pastors further acknowledged experiencing an additional three to six life stressors outside of their pastoral roles.

Keywords: Black church; Black pastor; Clergy stress; Occupational stress.

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Conflict of interest statement

R. C. Rogers has no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose. T. M. Tinsley has received speaker and consultant honoraria from Missio Seminary, Seminary on Sundays, and The Kingdom Association of Covenant Pastors.

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