Perceptions of Burnout Among Black Pastors of Small Churches: A Phenomenological Study

The purpose of this study was to explore the roles and responsibilities of Black pastors and how they might contribute to burnout. Five participants (four men, one woman) were selected from a sample of 25 Black pastors who completed the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) and agreed to be interviewed. Transcendental phenomenology, a qualitative analysis, was used to understand the essence of meaning of burnout among the five interview participants. Four themes were identified from the data, which allowed the essence of meaning of burnout to be constructed: (1) Burnout is Emotionally Tiring; (2) Ministerial Demands and Rewards; (3) Cultural Aspects; and (4) Personal Before Professional. Findings suggest that Black pastors are subject to experiencing emotional, physical, and spiritual fatigue; that denomination-specific tasks and cultural factors (i.e., age, race, and gender) add to the uniqueness and challenges of their pastoral identity; and that the choice to prioritize personal life over professional life ensures the stability in their personal relationships with God and their families.