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I've spoken to 5 #priesting colleagues in the last 2 days who are done. Don't want to serve parishes anymore. Still love God, still want to follow Jesus - but are super clear that post #COVID19 they don't want to be parish priests anymore.
This isn't just normal burnout. There is something to these conversations that is despairing. About the abuse clergy often receive. About the pressure. About the culture of our churches. Something unsustainable.
And I know we could go down the road of clericalism and privilege. And I won't deny those are real issues - they very much are. But I'm hearing from folks I trust and respect. Who love God and who love God's people. And just can't anymore.
So what do we do with that? How do we support each other? How do we change the abusive culture of our systems? How do we communicate effectively - maybe for each other - that we are soft targets? And that this time is hard on everyone?
And that if our calling really is love - to build up - as we hear in the #lectionary this week...then we need to be making different choices for ourselves and along with our people?
I'm really asking. Because I think so many are hurting - and ready to call it - to leave their vocations and go do something else - without ever even voicing any of this. Because we've created this shame around admitting this kind of pain.
I think we're about to lose a lot of good clergy to non-profits, coffee shops, and various other secular kinds of work. Where they will certainly glorify God in their lives and in their being. But what a loss to the #church.
