I have heard, anecdotally, about pastors who have had a very difficult time during COVID-19. Instead of regularly getting feedback (i.e. nods, an occasional amen, or other words of affirmation)while they preach, they just see a solitary camera lens staring at them.
Mental health experts are reporting a great increase in incidents of depression among pastors, dealing with self-worth, etc.
And as churches slowly emerge from the COVID lockdown and things return to some sense of a new normal, how are pastors coping? Who is providing pastoral care to the pastors. . . aside from regional pastors? Should church councils invest in mental health counseling for their pastors to help them/you through all of this?
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In Classis BCSE, the pastors have been having Zoom meetings every two weeks. We check in with each other and share our stories with each other. We share our church questions (ie, how to do baptisms, communion, etc) as well as how we handle these challenges in church life. It's been a blessing to be together in this way. We really only see each other at Classis meetings, but these Zoom meetings have helped us get to know each other better and share our lives together. And of course, we pray for each other. We have covenanted to keeping these meetings to one hour and so far we have.
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