FIFTY-THREE per cent of the South's clergy have considered quitting their vocation in the last three years - because of the increasing pressure of the job.

They claim that they are becoming overwhelmed by the complexity of the pastoral care demands they face, including debt counselling, marriage preparation, family counselling, terminal illness and divorce, which they deal with on a weekly basis.

Professor Leslie Francis, of the University of Wales, conducted the survey of over 2,570 church leaders and said they "invite reflection on how well pastors are trained to deal with psychological problems in a modern-day society."

Paul Ozanne, spokesman for the Salvation Army, admitted that some of his denomination's leaders had suffered because of the pressures of modern-day ministry, and the days of inviting the vicar round for cucumber sandwiches had long gone.

He said: "The pressures placed upon our spiritual leaders are greater than ever before.

"The Salvation Army is aware of the increased pressures on its officers, and we're endeavouring to provide ongoing training, help and support.

"There have been cases in recent years in the South where officers have become exhausted and have resigned, and currently, we have officers on sabbatical in order to give them a break."

One minister from Hampshire, who wished to remain amonymous, told the Daily Echo this week that out of his 25-years of ministry, the last five had been the most difficult.

"The problem is that people look to clergy to be the perfect role model," he said, "to provide the answers and solutions - but we, too, are just ordinary people, trying to live out our faith in what is becoming a more pressured and selfish world."

For an in-depth look at the crisis in the clergy, don't miss Focus On Faith in tomorrow's Daily Echo.

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