Attachment and Spiritual Maturity 8
These characteristics are evident in seminary students who come to graduate
school with a deep sense of emptiness. Students sense their spiritual and relational void
but are unsure how to go about filling it. Many unknowingly come to seminary for the
very purpose of finding mentors who will help bring the missing elements of belonging,
value, and worth into their lives. This leaves them spiritually desperate. They desire to
connect with God but they don' t know how or feel unworthy (Hall, 1997).
The Christian community today is increasingly concerned with the personal life of
their pastors and Christian leaders and their spiritual development. There are two
primary reasons for this concern. The first is the recognition of the extremely high
emotional demands that are placed on pastors today (Henry, Chertok, Keys, & Jergerski,
1991). Pastors are always on call and expected to meet the spiritual and emotional needs
ofthe people in their care. The stresses experienced by pastors resulting from lack of
time include frustration, loneliness, isolation, spiritual dryness, and marital stress (Ellison
& Mattila, 1983; Warner & Carter, 1984). Research suggests that higher levels of
loneliness and lower levels ofmarital adjustment among pastors provide evidence that
pastors (and their wives) experience a diminished quality of life compared to lay persons
(Warner & Carter, 1984). Pastors face other challenges associated with their professional
life. These include: isolation, loneliness, inadequacy, and insecurity (Hall, 1997). They
have many acquaintances but seventy percent report not having someone they consider a
close friend. This may result in lowered self esteem (London, 1993). Consequently,
ministers may respond through unresolved anger, unhealthy needs for approval, and the
instinct to control (MacDonald, 1998). Toe second reason the Christian community is concerned suggested by Warner
and Carter (1984) is that Christian leaders today seem to have lost their spiritual passion
and are experiencing moral failure. Their schedules are extremely busy, often lacking
purpose and a Sabbath for personal renewal. Many experience burnout. Burnout can be defined as a process in which chronic stress from interpersonal contact leads to emotional
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