Called to care for the people who care for everyone else

One of his parents' responsibilities was caring for pastors in their denomination who were struggling and needed a break. Ian saw firsthand what ministry can cost the people who give their lives to it. He felt called to serve pastors from a young age, and he still sees this work as a calling, not a job.

That calling led him to psychology. He earned an MA in Clinical Psychology and a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology. His dissertation studied job satisfaction and well-being among about 400 pastors, and it is freely available online.

For the last decade, Ian has worked with denominations to understand what their pastors need and to tackle the root problems behind burnout and turnover. That work includes research with more than 1,000 pastors, most of it confidential and carried out within the denominations themselves. He has coached denominational leaders, walked with pastors at every level through seasons of crisis, and spoken at conferences internationally.

What he has learned is simple: healthy pastors live in healthy systems.

Pastor Well-Being exists to help the leaders who shape those systems make changes that last, and to help pastors see clearly where they stand.

Beyond the work

At home and at church

Ian lives in the Atlanta area with his wife and son. They are active in their local church, where Ian plays drums on the worship team. He also sings in a regional choir, plays bass trombone in several church bands, and volunteers as an audio engineer, including running sound for touring worship artists.