Employees are not just expected to perform; they are expected to embody faith, joy, and patience at all times.
Mockery. Backbiting. Dictatorship. You might not expect these words to
describe a religious
workplace, but for many
religious workers, they are part of daily life.
A new study has found that these toxic behaviours are rife in the very places meant to offer peace
and refuge, pushing
pastors and church staff into emotional exhaustion, health problems, and even
thoughts of quitting altogether.
And because the work is seen as a “calling,” speaking out or seeking
help can feel like betrayal,
says a new study focused on the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in
Nyamira West Field.
Researchers interviewed 133 employees including pastors, administrators,
office workers, and institutional staff and published their findings last week in
the Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies.
“The study found that poor
work relationship, unfavourable work environment, heavy work load, lack of
control over one’s work and unclear roles are major causes of job stress,” said
Sibiah Kemunto, a human resource assistant at the church who led the study alongside
scholars from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. This university is owned by the SDA church.
The authors noted that in
settings where spiritual authority intersects with administrative power, the
potential for unaddressed conflicts and unhealthy dynamics grows.
“The study further found out
that financial constraints, over expectations, leadership crisis, malice
practices, and mistrust among employees, led to high levels of stress,” the
authors said.
Among the causes of stress,
poor interpersonal dynamics were the most cited factor, with more than 90 per cent of church workers reporting toxic
relationships at work.
The study notes that mockery
and backbiting take root when leadership fails to address gossip or when favouritism fuels resentment
among staff.
Discrimination and double standards flourish when decisions lack
transparency or fairness. And over time, too much expectation, especially without adequate support, can grind even the most
committed servant into silence and withdrawal.
The co-authors are Dr David Aunga and Dr Nathan Gitonga, both dons at Baraton university.
The study is titled “Effect Of Job Stress On Employees’ Commitment In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Nyamira West Field, Nyamira County – Kenya.”
“Stress intensifies existing discomfort in the workplace and erodes the
feeling of community,” one respondent shared.
Religious work adds a unique twist to these challenges. Employees are not just expected to perform; they are expected to embody faith, joy, and
patience at all times.
For instance, pastors
and workers are expected not only to meet administrative targets but to model
spiritual perfection.
“The emotionally demanding nature of ministry work, when combined with
limited organisational
support, contributes to a higher risk of burnout,” says the study.
The SDA Church’s own spiritual heritage speaks to this dilemma. More than a
century ago, church co-founder Ellen G. White warned of unrelenting labour among Christian workers.
“Those who are engaged in constant labour often feel that every moment must be occupied with labour and that all their time
must be given to the work. They do not take time to rest and recuperate, and
the result is often a breakdown,” she wrote in The Ministry of Healing.
Her counsel, however, is often overlooked.
The study’s numbers are stark: 83.4 per cent of respondents said job stress had affected
their mental and physical health. Nearly 70
per cent admitted to having considered leaving
their jobs.
More than three in four reported a diminished sense of belonging. Many said
they no longer felt their contribution was valued.
Respondents called for wellness programmes, counseling services, spiritual retreats, and basic reforms
in leadership style. They recommended regular training, fair treatment, clear
job descriptions, and improved communication.
And they asked, quite simply, to be treated with dignity.
The researchers advised
planning of leadership trainings geared towards building emotional
intelligence, conflict resolution, and stress management strategies.
They also called for “structured
and ongoing stress management programmes aimed at identifying, reducing, and coping with work-related
stressors and encourage spiritual enrichment activities that support their
spiritual well-being.”
The SDA Church is one of Kenya’s most influential religious institutions,
managing churches, schools, and hospitals across the country.