mad church disease...

I just finished reading a book called Mad Church Disease: Overcoming the Burnout Epidemic by Anne Jackson. It’s an interesting book because you don’t often find books written about the propensity of pastor or ministerial burnout. It is a taboo subject. Yet I personally know more pastors who have experience burned out than I can count on all my appendages. Having experience burnout and nearly a nervous breakdown myself, I think it is about time we talk about how a pastor’s heart has a propensity to give itself into brokenness.

I appreciate the frankness of this book and the self-help concepts that can be gleaned. Anne herself has experienced burnout so she speaks from experience. The book also utilizes multiple voices. Anne interviews other people at the end of each chapter, which builds on her points.

She starts the book by comparing burnout to mad cow disease.

Mad cow disease has 4 unique characteristics.
1 The disease lies dormant for a given amount of time, going unnoticed. It can be a period of months to a few years before the disease is found.
2 Mad cow disease is cause by a mutated protein that attaches itself to the cow’s central nervous system, thus affecting the cow’s brain and responses (hence the name). Essentially, it turns the cows brain and spinal cord into a spongy-type matter. Slowly, the cow’s mental and physical health begin to deteriorate.
3 Mad cow disease is transmitted by cows eating the suspect protein. Since are often fed the remains of other cattle (something yummy called meat and bone meal), its easy for an entire herd to become infected at once if they share the same food source.
4 Mad cow disease ultimately leads to the infected cow’s death. There is no cure.

Jackson then draws on this compelling metaphor for the burnout she or we experience. By chapter six, she starts talking about getting better, something a cow infected with mad cow disease can not do.

Anne gives 5 principles of recovery
1 Accept responsibility for your decisions: “the effect of the decision you have made over time has led you now to burnout.” We are responsible for the decisions we have made. (The late nights. The double doubles (in and out speak for quick death J, the neglect of study, prayer and meditation, family time etc. These were our decisions ) One of the things I appreciate about this book is that she does take the time to address the exception to all the rules she creates. In this one she takes time out to address those that were physically, sexually, or emotionally abused.
2 Change you purpose: what are you chasing after? Is your purpose messed up? Jackson reiterates that the best purpose is to love God and love neighbor as yourself.
3 Make a plan: it is essential that you make plans to change and then commit to follow through with these plans.
4 Create Boundaries: even Jesus took breaks to rest and rejuvenate. What, you think your better than Jesus? Lol
5 Find accountability: we need others to hold us up, to keep us committed to our goals.

I know this seems pretty basic. The truth is, the book is pretty basic which is nice for such a topic. It gives space to ask questions and to think through her simple process.

The last part of the book she chooses to talk about spiritual, emotion, mental, physical and relational health . I like that she isn’t afraid to speak of the physical health of pastors. I can’t tell you how many overweight (fat) unhealthy pastors I know. Me included. I may not be overweight but I’m definitely not healthy. It’s about time people start talking about that our own lack of health maybe the only thing keeping us from a lifetime of service to god and humanity.

A few years ago, through yoga, I learned to start listening to my body. This has been one of the most profound lessons of my life. I need to just shut up sometimes and listen to my body. It is communicating with me what health looks like.

This is a decent book. The most compelling part is the stories of those who have faced this powerful destruction and came out on the other side. You can check out more of these stories and share your own on her website madchurchdisease.com