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THURSDAY, MARCH 8,1879

Rev. Carpenter Studies Stress Amongst Clergy

Bv Libby Drmp Most lay people picture ministers as tranquil human beings, unsusceptible to health, marital or emotional problems. Yet nothing could be further from the truth, according to Reverend G Kenneth ( arpenter. minister of the First Baptist Church of Wildwood According to Revereryl Carpenter. clergymen are no diflerent than their fellow men. and in spite of their religious training, are prone to a high degree of st ress'f actors. Reverend Carpenter cited a study he has undertaken for the past three years ir# conjunction with his doctoral dissertation for .the Ecistern Baptist Theological Seminary (Philadelphia), in which he surveyed thirty-seven executives of the American Baptist Church of the U S. Fifteen of the church hierarchy have diagnosed cardiovascular problems These men are in charge of various states and regions in the American Baptist

churches of the U.S. A„with heavy administrative assignments. Reverend Carpenter believes that secondary factors such as overweight do contribute to the cardiovascular problems, however the type of personality of these men. he believes, more readily makes them candidates for heart attacks. He. considers the coronaryproni* men to be what he calls ‘Type A” behavioral personalities. These are men who must cram things into their days, who become angry whbn they must wait for anything, and are very hostile in their competitiveness. Whatever these men take on, they are compulsive about being successful "These men are polyphasic,” said Reverend Carpenter, "They have to do two things at one time, such as eat lunch while dictating. At meals they are the first to leave the table, after having chewed their food very quickly." “They do not permit them-

selves to be late for appointments. They are intolerant of others who are late." Physical characteristics of Type A individuals include facial tautness, rapid eyeblinking, finger tapping, rapid termination of sentences, and respiratory sighing. On the other hand, men who are "Type B" behavior types are free of the habits that categorize the "Type A’ individuals. "They are not up tight — inwardly as well as outwardly," said Reverend Carpenter. "They have freedom from time emergency, display no free floating hostility, especially in competition, and are apt not to worry if they lose their tennis game." Reverend Carpenter got his idea for the ministry study when he read a best selling book, "Type A Behavior and Your Heart" written by two cardiologists, Meyer Freedman and Ray Roseman. He corresponded with Dr. Freedman and received his enthusiastic cooperation.

Rev. Kenneth Carpenter of Wildwood’s First Baptist Chnrch.

Rev. Carpenter then undertook an extensive survey of the 37 ministers and their wives. He prepared fifty questions to be answered separately by the ministers and their spouses, comparing them against one another. Rev. Carpenter had the data run through a computer for his extensive readouts. He said the surv?yed ministers

Most clergy, it is Reverend Carpenter’s belief, don’t want to admit to weaknesses within themselves. They hide their problems within themselves, preferring self-help means and consultation with a friend or another clergyman rather than seeking out formal therapy with a trained psychiatrist or psychologist.

Only tour ministers did not respond to Rev. Carpenter’s study. “One of those who didn’t respond,” said Rev. Carpenter, “had a coronary and was undergoing coronary bypass surgery at the time.”

have been "very cooperative because their problems are a threatehing hazard.” As part of the study, Reverend Carpenter has recommended that the backgrounds of the participating executive ministers be studied further, questioning how many had themselves been the sons of ministers. Reverend Carpenter said that whatever the executives had been in the clergy prior to their holding high office created what they had become.

Only four ministers did not respond to Rev. Carpenter’s study. "One of those who didn’t respond." said Rev. Carpenter, "had a coronary and was undergoing coronary bypass surgery at the time." Rev. Carpenter has been asked to address an Executive Ministers Council at the headquarters of the American Baptist Church in Valley Forge on March 26th where people from all over the country will be present to hear his findings.