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Women ministers of word and sacrament within the United Reformed Church : a health check

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Rolph, Jenny, Francis, Leslie J., Charlton, Rodger, Robbins, Mandy and Rolph, Paul. (2011) Women ministers of word and sacrament within the United Reformed Church : a health check. Journal of Beliefs & Values, Vol.32 (No.1). pp. 19-32. ISSN 1361-7672

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13617672.2011.549307

Abstract

This study draws on qualitative questionnaire data provided by 22 women ministers of word and sacrament serving within the United Reformed Church in England to provide a health check across the four conceptually distinct areas of physical health, psychological health, religious health, and spiritual health. Here spiritual health is defined in terms of Fisher's notion of good relationships within the personal, communal, environmental and transcendental domains. The data reveal relatively poor levels of physical, psychological, religious and spiritual health. Many of the symptoms described and many of the issues raised are consistent with a picture of the clergy being an occupational group under considerable work‐related pressure and without adequate support mechanisms to help prevent such work‐related pressure leading to significant personal damage.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	United Reformed Church (Great Britain) -- Clergy, Women clergy -- Psychology, Women clergy -- Health and hygiene, Women clergy -- Religious life, Job stress
Journal or Publication Title:	Journal of Beliefs & Values
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	1361-7672
Date:	2011
Volume:	Vol.32
Number:	No.1
Page Range:	pp. 19-32
Identification Number:	10.1080/13617672.2011.549307
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/41309