Clergy Burnout and Church Health with Kim Cook

In this conversation, Kim Cook talks about the challenges of clergy burnout and the impact of clergy health on congregations. She discusses the importance of peer support, the effects of the pandemic on clergy, and the need for churches to care for their pastors. She also emphasizes the necessity of a holistic approach to well-being, including physical health and emotional support. Kim is a licensed clinical social worker and the Clinical Director at Elu; she works with families, couples, individuals, and groups on a variety of issues, including mental health, spiritual growth, trauma, parenting, and adoption/foster care. Kim has a Bachelor of Social Work from Messiah College, a Master of Social Work from the University of Maryland, and a Master of Arts from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For more information about Kim, go to www.eluccc.org.Chapters00:00 Introduction to Kim Cook and ELU04:18 The Integration of Psychology and Theology08:36 Understanding Stress and Clergy Burnout12:39 The Impact of Clergy Health on Congregations16:52 Isolation and Support Systems for Clergy21:17 The Aftermath of the Pandemic on Clergy25:29 Addressing Trauma and Church Hurt29:17 Coping with Grief and Loss in Ministry33:44 Final Thoughts and Resources