The plight of the Australian clergy revisted : orientation to ministry, burnout and ministry satisfaction

In secularised countries where the authority of religious institutions has declined church ministers face pressures that threaten ministry satisfaction and may precipitate burnout. This study examines the relationship of ministry orientation to outcomes of ministry stress in a large sample of Australian clergy. The sample comprised 2132 church leaders surveyed as part of the National Church Life Survey in Australia, in 2001. They completed brief, alternative measures of ministry orientation, burnout and ministry satisfaction. Data were analysed by means of higher order confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling to test a multidimensional model of clergy burnout. Results supported the validity of 3-factor models of ministry orientation and burnout as applied to clergy. The independence of the burnout sub-factor, personal accomplishment, from satisfaction in ministry was also established. An internal orientation to ministry was protective of burnout and conducive to satisfaction in ministry. The usefulness of ministry orientation as predictive of ministry outcomes in a context of secularisation is discussed