Employees are not just expected to perform; they are expected to embody faith, joy, and patience at all times.
Mockery. Backbiting. Dictatorship. You might not expect these words to describe a religious workplace, but for many religious workers, they are part of daily life.
A new study has found that these toxic behaviours are rife in the very places meant to offer peace and refuge, pushing pastors and church staff into emotional exhaustion, health problems, and even thoughts of quitting altogether.
And because the work is seen as a "calling,” speaking out or seeking help can feel like betrayal, says a new study focused on the Seventh-day Adventist Church (SDA) in Nyamira West Field.
Researchers interviewed 133 employees including pastors, administrators, office workers, and institutional staff and published their findings last week in the Journal of African Interdisciplinary Studies.
“The study found that poor work relationship, unfavourable work environment, heavy work load, lack of control over one’s work and unclear roles are major causes of job stress,” said Sibiah Kemunto, a human resource assistant at the church who led the study alongside scholars from the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton. This university is owned by the SDA church.
The authors noted that in
settings where spiritual authority intersects with administrative power, the
potential for unaddressed conflicts and unhealthy dynamics grows.
“The study further found out that financial constraints, over expectations, leadership crisis, malice practices, and mistrust among employees, led to high levels of stress,” the authors said.
Among the causes of stress, poor interpersonal dynamics were the most cited factor, with more than 90 per cent of church workers reporting toxic relationships at work.
The study notes that mockery and backbiting take root when leadership fails to address gossip or when favouritism fuels resentment among staff.
Discrimination and double standards flourish when decisions lack transparency or fairness. And over time, too much expectation, especially without adequate support, can grind even the most committed servant into silence and withdrawal.
The co-authors are Dr David Aunga and Dr Nathan Gitonga, both dons at Baraton university.
The study is titled “Effect Of Job Stress On Employees’ Commitment In The Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Nyamira West Field, Nyamira County – Kenya."
“Stress intensifies existing discomfort in the workplace and erodes the feeling of community,” one respondent shared.
Religious work adds a unique twist to these challenges. Employees are not just expected to perform; they are expected to embody faith, joy, and patience at all times.
For instance, pastors and workers are expected not only to meet administrative targets but to model spiritual perfection.
"The emotionally demanding nature of ministry work, when combined with limited organisational support, contributes to a higher risk of burnout," says the study.
The SDA Church's own spiritual heritage speaks to this dilemma. More than a century ago, church co-founder Ellen G. White warned of unrelenting labour among Christian workers.
“Those who are engaged in constant labour often feel that every moment must be occupied with labour and that all their time must be given to the work. They do not take time to rest and recuperate, and the result is often a breakdown,” she wrote in The Ministry of Healing. Her counsel, however, is often overlooked.
The study’s numbers are stark: 83.4 per cent of respondents said job stress had affected
their mental and physical health. Nearly 70
per cent admitted to having considered leaving
their jobs.
More than three in four reported a diminished sense of belonging. Many said they no longer felt their contribution was valued.
Respondents called for wellness programmes, counseling services, spiritual retreats, and basic reforms in leadership style. They recommended regular training, fair treatment, clear job descriptions, and improved communication.
And they asked, quite simply, to be treated with dignity.
The researchers advised planning of leadership trainings geared towards building emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and stress management strategies.
They also called for “structured and ongoing stress management programmes aimed at identifying, reducing, and coping with work-related stressors and encourage spiritual enrichment activities that support their spiritual well-being.”
The SDA Church is one of Kenya’s most influential religious institutions, managing churches, schools, and hospitals across the country.
