Is our loss their gain?

I am saddened to see what appears to be a bit of a developing trend in that some clergy are leaving the parochial ministry for other areas, clerical and otherwise, to remove themselves from the pressures of parish life and the organisational structures.

I assume that this has always been so but still wonder, as three of them are bells and smells types, whether this is an emerging pattern? Being me, I have probed as much as I can to try and get an understanding of their thinking and the reasons for their leaving.

Seems the last synod didn't help the situation much when people voted to affirm that those who opposed women's ordination were not 'true or faithful' Anglicans. This stung a couple of those I've spoken to because they were pastoring growing churches and were paying healthy parish shares. They felt that the money was still acceptable even when they (apparently) were not and as both had a bishop who had supported the measure, felt that perhaps their bishop ought not to take their 'tainted' money! Still, they've both left parochial ministry now - so that's no longer an issue for them.

Another felt that the pressure on them from the system with regard to Parish Share was making ministry so joyless that they've left their parish and the pressures of diocesan colleagues, and so the stories continue.

I would assume that there have always been clergy who have had enough and headed for chaplaincies, academia and the like - just seems odd how I keep bumping into people, many with a few years on the ministry clock but not retiring age, who are jumping ship.

The majority of those I have engaged with are a loss for the CofE (in my humble opinion) and a cause of concern and sadness in equal measure. Couple this with those who have folded their cassocks and taken early retirement and it is becoming obvious that something is not right with the wonderful world of clergy. Meeting with clergy who speak of living in the incumbents house and being paid whatever they wished to pass on to their curates (one did nine years as a curate!!), Rectors who did all the funerals (and lived like lords) and the like. They all speak of early retirement and leaving the ministry as a something rare in their ministry lives and how it was the norm to continue in ministry way past retirement age.

I need more than two hands to count those who have had stress or other mental/emotional problems which have seen them absent for long periods of time or caused them to leave the ministry.

What is happening and how do we offer more support to our clergy?

I hope people out there are praying for us!