The emotional life of seasoned pastors : how pastors pursue emotional maturity

Flatgard, Andrew

1 online resource (xi, 177 leaves)

Includes abstract.

D. Min. Covenant Theological Seminary 2025

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 169-177)

Titolo

The emotional life of seasoned pastors : how pastors pursue emotional maturity

Ultima modifica

08/04/2025

Creatore

Flatgard, Andrew

Abstract

Research indicates that one-third of senior executives plateau or implode professionally due to a lack of emotional maturity evident in their inability to regulate their emotions during stressful times or in their inability to build teams. While there is literature to aid pastors with practical suggestions for sustainable ministry, there is a dearth of literature that investigates how pastors can pursue emotional maturity and what motivates them to pursue emotional maturity. This study explored how seasoned pastors pursue emotional maturity in their ministry context. Four research questions guided the research: (1) How do pastors first become aware of their need to pursue emotional maturity? (2) How do pastors describe the goal of emotional maturity they are pursuing? (3) How do pastors pursue emotional maturity in their ministry context? (4) What continues to motivate pastors to pursue emotional maturity? The study employed qualitative research methods and used semi-structured interviews with six pastors. The literature review focused on four areas to understand how pastors pursue emotional maturity: defining emotional maturity and describing it in the lives of pastors, differentiation of professional leaders, family systems theory and its relevance for pastors’ emotional maturity, and a biblical-theological framework for emotional maturity. The research revealed that emotional maturity for pastors is the capacity to stay connected to people while staying committed to a shared mission. Pastors experience motivation to pursue emotional maturity from their relationships with God, others, and themselves. Pastors who stay connected to people while staying committed to a shared mission provide a less-anxious presence that fosters a community where people feel free to exercise their spiritual gifts. Four recommendations emerged from the research. First, pastors must pursue emotional maturity through self-awareness and resting in God’s love. Second, pastors should stay connected to people by utilizing healthy differentiation, family systems theory, and spiritual practices. Third, pastors must embrace a shared mission that emanates from the covenant with Abraham for the church to be faithful to God’s mission in the world. Finally, pastors must fear the Lord and abide in Christ to pursue emotional maturity and to be faithful to a shared mission.

Collaboratore