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Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Foundation Established to Assist Clergy
Website: www.dcce.org
E-mail: info@dcce.org
Phone: 888.373.7492
DAVIDSON, N.C., May 16, 2006 - In response to a growing crisis among clergy leaving the ministry due to stress, the Davidson Clergy Center Endowment (DCCE) has been established to serve clergy and their families. DCCE is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt foundation established to assist pastors vulnerable to career burnout and family stress as well as those seeking renewal. The goal of the endowment is to develop and distribute funds to provide scholarships and financial assistance for the spiritual, physical and mental wellness of clergy.
DCCE is responding to mounting evidence that spiritual caregivers are not taking care of themselves. According to a special report of the Alban Institute there is a developing crisis among clergy, including a severe shortage among major denominations. The study indicates that fewer young people are entering the ministry while those who are ordained are leaving in record numbers. Particularly alarming are the drops in the number of clergy age 35 and younger. In the past three decades the percentage of clergy has fallen from 25 percent to 7 percent in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), from 19 to less than 4 percent for the Episcopal Church and from 18 percent to less than 8 percent for the Lutheran Church.
Dr. Louis Reed, a nationally recognized pastoral counselor and writer from Charlotte, comments on the reasons for clergy burnout. His work specializes with pastors and notes they face conflicting stressors. Reed says that in American religion, local pastors are being judged by a consumer religion and mega-churches, while they are also expected to shoulder the burden of their members' emotional and spiritual security. "Responsibility and blame for inevitable failures are laid at the feet of pastoral leadership, contributing to the current high rate of burnout and disillusionment among clergy and fragmentation within congregations."
Pastors are attending wellness programs for varied personal and professional reasons-congregational conflicts, denominational stress, as well as time for restoration while on sabbatical or retreat. DCCE will assist clergy through programs that support health care, follow-up assistance and other needs.
The Rev. Don Olinger, a pastor serving a congregation in New York recently attended a clergy wellness program in Davidson, North Carolina. He comments, "It was one of the most nurturing and healing experiences I have had, and it came at a time that was good for me. My experience was of a safe, caring place that blessed me in my brokenness."
DCCE's will serve pastors of all denominations throughout the nation. The Endowment's president, George Jacobs, said "While there are effective and helpful programs for clergy and congregations, our research has found that at least half of individual pastors seeking care are unable to attend programs or seek counseling because of limited health insurance or personal incomes. Pastors are real people, with the same strengths and weaknesses of those they serve. Our role is to make it financially possible for them to have access to the resources they need to have joyful and effective ministries."
DCCE invites inquiries from organizations, individuals and foundations who are interested in helping clergy in all situations-including pastors serving areas affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes and chaplains serving at home or abroad.
For further information regarding the Davidson Clergy Center Endowment, 1-888-373-7492 or visit the Endowment's web site at www.dcce.org.
Media Contact:
George Jacobs,
DCCE, President
info@dcc.org
georgejacobs@bellsouth.net
www.dcce.org
1.888.373.7492
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
E-mail: info@dcce.org
Phone: 888.373.7492
DAVIDSON, N.C., May 16, 2006 - In response to a growing crisis among clergy leaving the ministry due to stress, the Davidson Clergy Center Endowment (DCCE) has been established to serve clergy and their families. DCCE is a not-for-profit, tax-exempt foundation established to assist pastors vulnerable to career burnout and family stress as well as those seeking renewal. The goal of the endowment is to develop and distribute funds to provide scholarships and financial assistance for the spiritual, physical and mental wellness of clergy.
DCCE is responding to mounting evidence that spiritual caregivers are not taking care of themselves. According to a special report of the Alban Institute there is a developing crisis among clergy, including a severe shortage among major denominations. The study indicates that fewer young people are entering the ministry while those who are ordained are leaving in record numbers. Particularly alarming are the drops in the number of clergy age 35 and younger. In the past three decades the percentage of clergy has fallen from 25 percent to 7 percent in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), from 19 to less than 4 percent for the Episcopal Church and from 18 percent to less than 8 percent for the Lutheran Church.
Dr. Louis Reed, a nationally recognized pastoral counselor and writer from Charlotte, comments on the reasons for clergy burnout. His work specializes with pastors and notes they face conflicting stressors. Reed says that in American religion, local pastors are being judged by a consumer religion and mega-churches, while they are also expected to shoulder the burden of their members' emotional and spiritual security. "Responsibility and blame for inevitable failures are laid at the feet of pastoral leadership, contributing to the current high rate of burnout and disillusionment among clergy and fragmentation within congregations."
Pastors are attending wellness programs for varied personal and professional reasons-congregational conflicts, denominational stress, as well as time for restoration while on sabbatical or retreat. DCCE will assist clergy through programs that support health care, follow-up assistance and other needs.
The Rev. Don Olinger, a pastor serving a congregation in New York recently attended a clergy wellness program in Davidson, North Carolina. He comments, "It was one of the most nurturing and healing experiences I have had, and it came at a time that was good for me. My experience was of a safe, caring place that blessed me in my brokenness."
DCCE's will serve pastors of all denominations throughout the nation. The Endowment's president, George Jacobs, said "While there are effective and helpful programs for clergy and congregations, our research has found that at least half of individual pastors seeking care are unable to attend programs or seek counseling because of limited health insurance or personal incomes. Pastors are real people, with the same strengths and weaknesses of those they serve. Our role is to make it financially possible for them to have access to the resources they need to have joyful and effective ministries."
DCCE invites inquiries from organizations, individuals and foundations who are interested in helping clergy in all situations-including pastors serving areas affected by the Gulf Coast hurricanes and chaplains serving at home or abroad.
For further information regarding the Davidson Clergy Center Endowment, 1-888-373-7492 or visit the Endowment's web site at www.dcce.org.
Media Contact:
George Jacobs,
DCCE, President
info@dcc.org
georgejacobs@bellsouth.net
www.dcce.org
1.888.373.7492
*****
About Religion Press Release Services
Religion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others.
The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
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About Religion Press Release ServicesReligion Press Release Services distributes press releases, press advisories, photos and other stories on behalf of religious organizations, denominational offices, think tanks, watchdog groups, advocacy groups, coalitions, foundations, colleges, universities, seminaries, publishers and others. The organizations and/or individuals who submit materials for distribution by Religion Press Release Services are solely responsible for the facts in and accuracy of their materials. Religion Press Release Services will correct any errors brought to its attention.
Contact Us
To distribute press releases through Religion Press Release Services, contact Claudia Sans at csans@religionnews.com or 202-383-7870. For more information check out our PDF brochure.
Religion News Service, 1101 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20036 (202) 463-8777
