Clergy are at as much risk of encountering depression as anyone, yet they often find it very difficult to admit their depression and understand it. This is the case partly because parishioners' expectations of their pastor's emotional and spiritual health are often so high: " You are so strong, so confident"; "You work so hard and do so much";"You possess such remarkble faith". In the face of such affirmation, it is difficult to admit that one's weakness injures self-esteem, better to hurt than acknowledge.

Robert L. Randall, Ph.D. is an ordained United Church of Christ Pastor and a Licensed Clinical Psychologist serving as Minister of Counseling at Peter's United Church of Christ in Elmhurst, Illinois.