Priestly Pressure: Lived Experiences of Seventh-day Adventist Pastors During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Singapore
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Abstract
The impact of COVID-19 on mental health has received significant attention. However, the data remains limited when it comes to examining its effects upon the clergy. In this study, the experiences of six Seventh-day Adventist pastors working in Singapore were explored in regards to their mental health status during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their relationships with people, their ability to navigate changing policies, and their sense of self-worth were themes identified as affecting mental health. Conflict involving parishioners, loss of interaction, and the lack of boundaries at home affected pastors’ mental health and their dealings with people. Under the theme of policy, pastors needed to navigate through constant directional changes specified by government authorities and higher-level church organizations. Pastors felt a constant pressure to adhere to all the requirements when managing their churches. Supplementing these two themes, pastors were also constantly struggling internally, particularly with the sense of helplessness and incompetency. The findings from this study contrast with other similar studies, and point to potentially distinctive socioeconomic factors that may have played a role in the pandemic experiences of pastors in Singapore.
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