Clergy divorce: Pastoral perspective

Abstract

Clergy divorce is one topic that is difficult to study. The church expects the clergy to be exemplary in running the affairs of their home. However, the clergy family as humans encounter the same difficulties in their marriage as the laity. The lack of pastoral care to the clergy family has resulted in some of them going for divorce. The study explored the phenomenon of divorce amongst the clergy and how it affected them. The study looks at the phenomenon of divorce from some of the scriptures in the Old and New Testaments and views of scholars on divorce and remarriage. The study employs the qualitative method of research. Qualitative data was collected using the unstructured interviews with eight clergy who had divorced. Data analysis was achieved through the use of thematic data analysis. The study had revealed that the divorce was traumatic to the clergy, they were rejected and experienced stigmatization from the leadership, their colleagues and the church members. During the process, the church failed to pastorally care for them. The study proposes a healing method, through the use of the themes teased from the interviews. It also suggests the formation of the family enrichment program that will empower the clergy family in dealing with the marital conflict and journey with them when they decide to separate or divorce. The family enrichment program will help to pastorally care for the clergy family utilizing tools such a mediation, crisis prevention and divorce counselling.