Ministry is a unique vocation that often requires self-sacrifice to meet the needs of others. Navigating interpersonal relationships can be a difficult aspect of ministry, and this challenge is even more pronounced if the clergy is female and battling cancer. This article reports a sub-set of findings from a qualitative study that utilized interpretative phenomenological analysis to uncover the lived experiences of six female clergy cancer survivors. The findings revealed that congregants, and participants’ relationships with congregants, influenced participants’ cancer experience in three key ways. First, participants experienced stress and loneliness based on their own and others’ unrealistic expectations associated with a career in ministry. Second, participants learned to don a figurative mask and to selectively reveal and guard their emotions about cancer and cancer treatment from those they were called to serve. Third, participants’ experience of cancer and their commitment to their calling required both reliance on God and self-care. Implications for career counseling and coaching with clergy in adverse situations are offered.

中文翻译：

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事工中的人际压力：女神职人员癌症幸存者的生活经历

事工是一项独特的职业，通常需要自我牺牲才能满足他人的需要。处理人际关系可能是事工的一个困难方面，如果神职人员是女性并且正在与癌症作斗争，这一挑战就更加明显。本文报告了一项定性研究的子集，该研究利用解释性现象学分析来揭示六名女性神职人员癌症幸存者的生活经历。研究结果表明，会众以及参与者与会众的关系在三个关键方面影响了参与者的癌症体验。首先，参与者因自己和他人对事奉事业的不切实际期望而感到压力和孤独。第二，参与者学会了戴上具象的面具，并有选择地向他们被要求服务的人揭示和保护他们对癌症和癌症治疗的情绪。第三，参与者的癌症经历和他们对呼召的委身需要对上帝的依赖和自我照顾。提供了在不利情况下与神职人员进行职业咨询和辅导的意义。