Forced termination of clergy involves constant negativity found in personal attacks and criticism from a small congregational faction. The minister feels psychologically pressured to step down from the ministry position and this process is often demeaning to the emotional and physical well-being of the minister. The prevalence of forced termination among clergy has ranged from 25% among many denominations to 41% among Assemblies of God ministers. Forced termination and its effects are serious problems that have yet to be adequately addressed by scholars in social science research. The lack of scholarly research in this area called for a large national study from a reputable research institution. This online study shows that 28% of ministers among 39 denominations experienced a forced termination. Forced termination was associated with high levels of depression, stress, and physical health problems. Forced termination was also associated with low levels of self-efficacy, and self-esteem.
BaumAFlemingRReddyDMUnemployment stress: Loss of control, reactance and learned helplessnessSocial Science Medicine1986225509–51610.1016/0277-9536(86)90016-X
3.
BlantonP.W.Stress in clergy families: Managing work and family demandsFamily Perspective199226315–330
4.
BlantonPWMorrisMWork-related predictors of physical symptomatology and emotional well-being among clergy and spousesReview of Religious Research1999404331–34810.2307/3512120
5.
BlizzardSProtestant parish minister's self-image of his master rolePastoral Psychology19589925–3210.1007/BF01743571
6.
BrowneKSnowball sampling: Using social networks to research non-heterosexual womenInternational Journal of Social Research Methodology20058147–6010.1080/1364557032000081663
7.
ChandlerCWhen churches beat their plowshares into swords: People at war with the pastorReview and Expositor2001984557–578
8.
ClarkA.OswaldA.Unhappiness and unemploymentThe Economic Journal1994104424648–659
9.
CohenSWilliamsonGPerceived stress in a probability sample of the United StatesThe Social Psychology of Health198813123–128
10.
CohenSKamarckTMermelstienRA global measure of perceived stressJournal of Health and Social Behavior1983244385–39610.2307/2136404
Crowell, R. 1995. Forced pastoral exits: An empirical study. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Dallas Theological Seminary, Dallas, TX.
13.
DewMABrometEJPenkowerLMental health effects of job loss in womenPsychological Medicine1992223751–76410.1017/S0033291700038198
14.
DooleyDCatalanoRRecent research on the psychological effects of unemploymentJournal of Social Issues19884441–1210.1111/j.1540-4560.1988.tb02088.x
15.
FaginLUnemployment and health in families1981LondonDepartment of Health and Social Security
16.
FrancisLJKaldorPShevlinMLewisCAAssessing-emotional exhaustion among the Australian clergy: Internal reliability and construct validity of the scale of emotional exhaustion in ministry (SEEM)Review of Religious Research2004453269–27710.2307/3512264
GoodwinEForced terminations and ethicsThe Servant. Publication of Ministering to Ministers Foundation, Inc1997211
19.
GreenfieldGThe wounded minister: Healing from and preventing personal attacks2001Grand Rapids, MIBaker Books
20.
GurneyRMLeaving school, facing unemployment, and making attributions about the causes of unemploymentJournal of Vocational Behavior198118179–9110.1016/0001-8791(81)90031-2
HolmesTHRaheRHThe social readjustment rating scaleJournal of Psychosomatic Research1967112213–21810.1016/0022-3999(67)90010-4
23.
HurrellJJMcLaneyMExposure to job stress: A new psychometric instrumentScandnavian Journal of Work Environment and Health198814suppl 127–28
24.
Kasl, S.V., E. Rodriguez, and K.E. Lasch. 1998. The impact of unemployment on health and well-being. In Adversity, stress, and psychopathology, pp. 111–113.
25.
KinickiAJPersonal consequences of plant closings: A model and preliminary testHuman Relations1985383197–21210.1177/001872678503800301
LegangerAKraftPRoysambEPerceived self-efficacy in health behaviour research: Conceptualisation, measurement and correlatesPsychology & Health20001515110.1080/08870440008400288
30.
LewisCATurtonDWFrancisLJClergy work-related psychological health, stress, and burnout: An introduction to this special issue of mental health, religion and cultureMental Health, Religion & Culture20071011–810.1080/13674670601070541
31.
LeymannHThe content and development of mobbing at workEuropean Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology199652165–18410.1080/13594329608414853
32.
LittleLMSimmonsBLNelsonDLHealth among leaders: Positive and negative affect, engagement and burnout, forgiveness and revengeJournal of Management Studies200744243–26010.1111/j.1467-6486.2007.00687.x
33.
LondonHBJWisemanNBPastors at greater risk2003Ventura, CARegal
34.
MartocchioJJStrategic compensation: A human resource management approach20106Upper Saddle River, NJPrentice Hall
35.
MaslachCJob burnout: How people copePublic Welfare197836256–58
36.
MaslachCSchaufeliWBMaslachCMarekTBurnout: A multidimensional perspectiveProfessional burnout: Recent developments in theory and research1993Philadelphia, PATaylor & Francis19–32
37.
MaslachCJacksonSEThe measurement of experienced burnoutJournal of Organizational Behavior19812299–11310.1002/job.4030020205
38.
MaslachCSchaufeliWBLeiterMPJob burnoutAnnual Review of Psychology2001521397–42210.1146/annurev.psych.52.1.397
39.
MinerMHChanges in burnout over the first 12 months in ministry: Links with stress and orientation to ministryMental Health, Religion & Culture20071019–1610.1080/13674670600841819
40.
MorrisMBlantonPWDenominational perceptions of stress and the provision of support services for clergy familiesPastoral Psychology1994425345–36410.1007/BF02198516
41.
MorrisMBlantonPWThe influence of work-related stressors on clergy husbands and their wivesFamily Relations1994432189–19510.2307/585322
42.
MorrisMBlantonPWPredictors of family functioning among clergy and spouses: Influences of social context and perceptions of work-related stressorsJournal of Child and Family Studies19987127–4110.1023/A:1022955912433
43.
RadloffL.S.The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general populationApplied Psychological Measurement197713385–401
44.
SchummWPaff-BergenLHatchRObiorahFCopelandJMeensLBugaighisMConcurrent and discriminant validity of the Kansas marital satisfaction scaleJournal of Marriage and the Family198648 May 381–38710.2307/352405
45.
SchuttRKInvestigating the social world: The process and practice of research20065Thousand Oaks, CAPine Forge Press
46.
SperaSBuhrfeindEPennebakerJExpressive writing and coping with job lossThe Academy of Management Journal1994373722–73310.2307/256708
47.
StonerCRRobinJRussell-ChapinLOn the edge: Perceptions and responses to life imbalanceBusiness Horizons2005484337–34610.1016/j.bushor.2004.12.002
48.
Tanner, M., and A. Zvonkovic. 2011. Forced to leave: Forced termination experiences of Assemblies of God clergy and its connection to stress and well-being outcomes. Pastoral Psychology. doi: 10.1007/s11089-011-0339-6.
49.
TiggemannMWinefieldAHThe effects of unemployment on the mood, self-esteem, locus of control, and depressive affect of school-leaversJournal of Occupational Psychology198457133–4210.1111/j.2044-8325.1984.tb00145.x
50.
TurnerCTerminations: 1,300 staff dismissed in 2005Facts and Trends20075339–41
WinefieldAHTiggemannMJob loss vs. failure to find work as psychological stressors in the young unemployedJournal of Occupational Psychology198962179–8510.1111/j.2044-8325.1989.tb00479.x
55.
WinefieldAHTiggemannMEmployment status and psychological well-being: A longitudinal studyJournal of Applied Psychology1990754455–45910.1037/0021-9010.75.4.455
56.
WinefieldAHTiggemannMSmithSUnemployment, attributional style and psychological well-beingPersonality and Individual Differences198785659–66510.1016/0191-8869(87)90063-8
57.
WinefieldAHTiggemannMWinefieldHRUnemployment distress, reasons for job loss and causal attributions for unemployment in young peopleJournal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology1992653213–21810.1111/j.2044-8325.1992.tb00499.x
