Clergy spiritually exhausted, stressed out: a new report shows Canadian ministry is 'in crisis'.(news)

Forget the demise of the church. Look closer. Our ministers, according to a new study, are spiritually exhausted, stressed out, have few friends and little support. In short, Christian ministry in Canada is, in the words of the author of a recent report, "in crisis."

Clergy Well-Being: Seeking Wholeness with Integrity, a report compiled by Rev. Dr. Andrew Irvine of Knox College, shows that 77 per cent of the surveyed clergy felt they were more like a CEO than a pastor; 18 per cent could not identify a close friend in church or their community; and 80 per cent felt guilty if caught taking time off during the week even though most work a 50-hour week.

"There is a big disconnect between the call to ministry and what they actually do," says Irvine. "There were major issues around things like identity, relationships and competition among clergy."

Irvine was recently appointed director of the …