How do pastors or priests fight off loneliness as the leader of a local church?

Question

Most ministers & priests are peerless in their daily work lives, serving as caretakers and sermonizers. The work week can stretch to encompass all 7 days.

What do you imagine occurs (or what do you encourage ministers and priests to do) to develop true human connections with other human beings, relationships that are equal, respectful, and devoid of the pastoral role?

corona001000:

I'm an atheist and do not have any undue respect for the clergy, but the vast majority of pastors and priests are non-abusive. Condemning an entire class based on the actions of a very few is prejudicial and not a helpful comment.

Answer 1

It is a problem. Especially for Catholics, who are not allowed to marry.
I should think that having a closer relationship with Jesus would be very important to these men, but you are quite correct, they do need more human contact as well.
I have been a pastor's secretary, and I know how lonely the job can be. The best thing a church can do is to try to involve him in their social events...I remember we threw a birthday party for our pastor, and it made him so happy, he actually cried.

Answer 2

I think that is only a problem with a small percentage of religious leaders. I used to work in a church and had many friends who were in that field of service. They pretty much all were mentally healthy people---
Their relationship with God, of course, gives much strength and solace. But most people entering that field also have a real desire to help others, to love others, and to communicate with others. Most are "people persons".
Only a small percentage of the congregation expect their pastor or priest to be some perfect being on a pedestal. Most church leaders have many friends and some. of course, are married and have families as well.
One can have fun, joke, laugh, play, love etc. and still have God as a constant part of one's life. The more spiritually advanced an individual is, in fact, the humbler one becomes--- and the more respectful and 'equal' with others one feels.
Those who feel better than others, or separated from them, need to pray more!

Answer 3

i understand you purely asked for solutions from Atheist and Agnostics, yet i'm an Christian and that i could desire to communicate to that remark. between the foremost motives that adult men and ladies folk come to God is by technique of the fact they're searching for exhilaration, convenience, love and attractiveness that they won't be able to discover interior the organic international whatever share drugs, how lots alcohol and how lots intercourse they work together in. they have nonetheless been left with a element of their hearts it is empty. some end, go a distinct course and discover God. some end and proceed residing a relatively empty life yet giving up the medicine, alcohol and indiscriminate intercourse. some proceed with that life, declare to be Christians, yet do no longer walk the classes of God of their lives, and a few do purely no longer care and stay the place they're. it relatively is not any longer as much as me or anybody else to attraction to any conclusions approximately ideals or life types. i could purely ask which you no longer make a judgment approximately Christians based on the habit of a few. Be blessed.

Answer 4

Come on, you know how they fight off the loneliness. It is usually with young boys.
Why is it that any priest or pastor that I have ever met gives off that creepy vibe? Was at a friend's dad's funeral a short while back and the pastor there talking about Jesus and trying to recruit for his church was just so creepy. Another reason to stay away from church, oh and the fact that it is corrupt and childish.

Answer 5

Pastors have family's, priests have a man made rule not letting them marry.

Answer 6

Mine's married and adopted five sons.

Answer 7

Become atheists.