Conversations about the poor health of clergy must go be­yond bottom-line institu­tional statistics. It’s a spiritual matter that must be connected with the gospel.

The summer after I graduat­ed high school I interned with my pastors, Patricia Jarvis and Julian Sulgit. Every day began with exercise. I walked with Patricia and lifted weights with Julian. At the most basic level, they needed the exercise to ward off stress from long hours and the difficulties of their role. But they also need­ed it to convey the gospel with integrity. Their job as clergy required deliberate attention to the health of their bodies.

It was through bodily touch that Jesus healed the leper (Mark 1:40-45), blessed the children (Matthew 19:13-15) and restored Thomas (John 20:24-29). Our salvation was won when Jesus’ body was crucified, buried and resur­rected. Though we may long for a heavenly body beyond the realms of pain and death, the scriptural witness is that our earthly bodies are gifts from God, worthy of our re­spect. So it is that the Chris­tian faith is an incarnational faith.

Pastoral leadership is also in­carnational. Clergy embody the presence of God. When a pastor visits someone in the hospital, he or she is a visual representation of an invis­ible God. We hold hands and touch shoulders to comfort the sick, the grieving and the lonely. A Spirit-filled sermon will often move people to tears. Scripture shows touch to be a means of healing (James 5:14). Our most holy actions, the sacraments of Baptism and Holy Commu­nion are experienced through the body. The temperature of the water, the smell of the bread, the gentle pressure of the hand on the head, the taste of the wine, the songs of praise and holiness: beyond being commanded by Christ himself, the sacraments, these means of grace, are experi­enced with our bodies.

The integrity of the gospel we proclaim is affected by the healthiness of our bodies. This doesn’t mean the gospel can only be proclaimed by the young, the virile, the strong, the able-bodied or the beautiful. It was through Christ’s broken body that we were redeemed. But, there’s a difference between a body broken by age, injury, or disease and a one broken through self-abuse and neglect. When we teach our parishio­ners to love their neighbors as themselves (Leviticus 19:18); when we proclaim to the chil­dren of our congregations that they are fearfully and wonder­fully made (Psalm 139:14); when we pass on Paul’s lesson that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20); do our bodies betray our words?

The clergy of our Conference are children of God. We suf­fer high rates of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and hyper­tension. In 2009, we spent over $900,000 on prescription medication. Health care costs represent 30% of the 2011 Conference budget. But there is a higher cost: the spiritual health of clergy and effective sharing of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We sing praises and teach spiritual disciplines so that all may have abundant life in Jesus Christ. Yet, we forgo exercise, eat poorly, shun pre­ventative health care, and fail to keep the Sabbath. These choices seem to reveal a deep­er sadness and inability to cope with the rigors of clergy leadership. Our health strug­gles are spiritual struggles.

Is this God’s will for God’s children? Of course not! If we are going to address this matter effectively, we must be honest. And our words must be accom­panied by action.

Friends and colleagues, we must take responsibility for our bodies and live the Gospel life with integrity.

Rev. Gudger-Raines pastors the Sabra-Highland-Jones charge in the Mon Valley district. Reach him at cegraines@gmail.com.