I was recently asked to contribute something for Grace Publications. It is a reworked (but largely the same) section from my book Independent Eldership. One section of the article reads this way:

Many pastors and their families feel isolated. Other church members have the freedom to say ‘no’ to duties in the church, but paid staff members do not usually feel able to do the same. Church leaders can be lightning rods for criticism. Sometimes they receive personal and hurtful comments about the effectiveness of their ministry, their suitability, decisions they have taken, which can be unwarranted or outright unkind. Some of these things may even spill over into comments about their family. It can feel as though the minister and his family are fair game and nothing can be said in response. It can, at times, feel as though one’s livelihood hangs in the balance any time someone takes against you or dislikes the direction the church is taking. All of these things are undoubtedly stressful. People can forget that full-time ministers and their families are just like everyone else: if you cut them – they bleed.

Alongside all these things, there are various other pressures. Many cite financial worries, high expectations and the fact that ministry success is not easily quantifiable (even if it were, it isn’t appropriate to judge ministry success by number of converts or baptisms at any rate!) The temptation to envy other’s ministries and compare theirs with ours is ever present. There is the call to higher moral standards, the stakes that go with it and the sense that all eyes are continually watching. All of this can cause real anxiety.

You can read the full article here and what it suggests as (part of) the answer to some of these things.