As pastors burn out, a recent book offers a way back to wholeness

In churches across the UK and beyond, a silent crisis is unfolding. Behind the pulpits, beneath the sermons, and beyond the general public personas, many pastors are burning out—emotionally, spiritually, and relationally.

According to recent data released by the Barna Group, in collaboration with Gloo, in June 2025, a staggering 42% of Protestant pastors said they’d seriously considered quitting full-time ministry prior to now 12 months—up from 29% in 2021.

The primary reasons include chronic stress, isolation, and political tensions.

Over half of pastors cited “the immense stress of the job,” while 43% admitted they feel “lonely and isolated”.

Nearly 30% shared that they’re simply not hopeful concerning the way forward for their church.

While pastors scored well on funds and vocational purpose, they ranked significantly lower than the final population in emotional and relational well-being.

Incredibly, over half of pastors don’t receive any skilled support—no mentors, coaches, or counsellors—despite needing it just as much as anyone else.

The vp of Barna commented to The Christian Post: “Pastors traditionally do not feel comfortable for various different reasons to hunt down counseling, to hunt down mentoring. You comprehend it must be OK inside a Church community and the Church culture for a pastor to say, ‘you recognize what? I would like help.’ I would like some counselling. I’m struggling emotionally.

“But to be quite frank, for whatever reason, a variety of pastors do not feel comfortable being vulnerable inside a leadership context. I actually think that churches need to speak and say, ‘Hey pastor, it’s OK to not be OK.’”

Christian coaches, Simon and Ceri Harris, of Wholehearted Solutions and 5Q Europe, are amongst those sounding the alarm.

After three many years of working with church and charity leaders globally, the couple – who’re also long-time ministers at Burlington Church in Ipswich – have observed a troubling pattern: leaders who seem outwardly successful but inwardly are unravelling.

Their recent book, Wholehearted Leadership, is a timely response to this growing crisis.

Speaking to The Baptist Times, they explained: “For all of the ‘success’ many live with disappointment, stress and a sense that their personal relationships, including with themselves, aren’t where they need them to be. 

“As we describe within the book there’s a ‘dis-ease of the center’. The pressure to maintain performing, to carry all of it together, was quietly eroding their joy, sense of calling and reference to self.

“Leaders juggle many hats: preacher, pastor, planner, mentor all while carrying the hopes, hurts, and struggles of the people they serve. It’s sacred work, but it surely often feels lonely and relentless.”

Instead of offering one other productivity strategy, the book calls leaders right into a deeper journey: certainly one of emotional honesty, spiritual rest, and inner healing. They like to think about it as a roadmap toward living and leading from wholeness, not performance.

“The old model of the solo heroic leader who has all of the answers is giving method to something more human and relational,” they said. “We’re seeing a shift toward authenticity, emotional intelligence, and shared leadership.”

They note that as public trust in institutions declines, leaders are under more scrutiny than ever and titles now not carry automatic respect.

Instead, persons are asking deeper and more discerning questions on their leaders — questions that transcend charisma or competence.

“People are asking: ‘Who is that this leader becoming? Are they trustworthy? Do they listen? Do they lead from integrity or image?’” they observed.

Simon and Ceri argue that these questions demand a radical rethink — not only in how we train leaders, but in what form of leaders we’re forming: “In other words: Do they lead from their whole heart?

“That’s why the inner life matters. Leadership isn’t about outcomes. It’s about presence, posture, and the way we show up.”

They want Wholehearted Leadership “to be an invite from Jesus for leaders who’re hurting, and coming to the top of themselves, to come back away with Him and find rest.”

That means “rest for themselves, their future leadership and their lives”. 

Their hope is that the book will help pastors “feel accompanied” and provides permission for wounded leaders “to pause, to create space, and to learn how you can love themselves”.

“That is what Jesus commanded, right?” they added.