ECFA is grateful for this Knowledge Center resource authored by Mindy Caliguire, founder and president of Soul Care. Learn more about Mindy’s work to cultivate soul health among leaders and those they serve at soulcare.com.  

Ministry burnout doesn’t usually show up as a dramatic collapse. More often, it creeps in quietly. Pastors still show up on Sundays and nonprofit executives are at their posts on Monday mornings. They still smile through staff meetings. They still respond to emails. But inside, they’re unraveling. 

And too often, boards don’t see it. Or they see it and feel ill-equipped to act. 

That’s why ECFA’s new Excellence in Leader Care Standard is so timely. For the first time, it formally calls boards to intentionally engage in the holistic care of their top leader. This isn’t just a cultural shift—it’s a spiritual one. It acknowledges the heavy loads that leaders are carrying and introduces the need to support those leaders proactively with intentionality around their care. 

As a board member, you’re not responsible for the actual care being provided. But you are responsible to ensure–for the stability of the organization and the leader–that your top leader is getting the support they need. And burnout is a sure sign that support is needed. 

Early Detection, Early Cure 

I still remember the first persuasive speech I ever gave—it was in college at Cornell University. I was terrified. Public speaking wasn’t my strength. But I’ll never forget the topic. My father, a cancer researcher, suggested I speak on “Early Detection, Early Cure.” It was a message close to our family’s heart: many cancers, when caught early, can be treated effectively. Waiting too long, however, often meant irreversible damage. 

The same is true for the soul. Most burnout can be successfully addressed. Often when burnout leads to a complete flame out, it is not usually because a leader is unqualified, lacks the necessary gifting, or is careless. Leaders often flame out simply because no one noticed—or responded—when the early signs were quietly screaming for attention. 

Here are five ways church and ministry boards can notice, engage, and respond—before it’s too late.  

1. See the Warning Signs Early—And Don’t Look Away 

From Soul Care’s burnout assessment tools and courses, we’ve learned there are certain early warning signs that, while often internal, can sometimes be visible to those paying attention: 

• The leader begins to isolate more—opting out of gatherings, skipping meals or meetings. 
• There’s a visible dulling of passion—what once lit them up now gets brushed aside. 
• Their decision-making becomes reactive or avoidant. 
• They stop initiating—whether with staff, volunteers, or ministry partners. 
• Humor becomes more cynical. Positivity fades. 
• They seem emotionally “flat” or, conversely, more volatile than usual. 

As a board, you likely aren’t privy to every detail of a leader’s emotional world—but you can notice these shifts. Ask your staff, ask your spouse, ask your own heart: “Are we seeing changes that warrant a conversation?” 

2. Ask Soul-Level Questions—Not Just Performance Metrics 

We often ask our leaders, “How’s the organization doing?” or “How’s giving this quarter?” 

Rarely do we ask, “How is your soul?” 

Boards must be brave enough to enter those deeper conversations. At least once a year, set aside time with your leader to talk candidly about their personal well-being. Ask about spiritual rhythms, rest, and relationships. 

Here are a few questions you can try: 

• What’s giving you life right now? 
• Where are you feeling most drained? 
• Who’s pastoring you? 
• Are there areas where you feel like you’re pretending? 

You can find some more questions in ECFA’s “7 Leader Care Questions Boards Can Ask.” Just note that the key here is not to make it a performance review. Make it a human one. 

3. Normalize Rhythms of Rest and Recovery 

If your church or ministry has never offered a sabbatical or structured retreat for its leader, now is the time to change that. 

Burnout doesn’t take hold or diminish overnight—it accumulates in a culture where there’s no place to rest. Sabbaticals, monthly solitude days, silent retreats, even structured vacations with no ministry obligations—these are not luxuries. They are lifelines. And they are absolutely necessary to shepherd a leader back from severe levels of burnout. 

If your organization hasn’t budgeted for this kind of care, start now. Rest is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of wisdom. 

And remember, when boards model this kind of value for soul health, the entire staff culture begins to shift. 

4. Create a Culture of Honest Accountability and Encouragement 

The most dangerous place for a burned-out leader is alone. 

Encourage your senior leader to develop trusted relationships—spiritual directors, coaches, therapists, or peer cohorts. Your board can normalize this—and even fund it. 

But more than that, lead the way in establishing a culture where truth can be spoken in love. Be a sanctuary where struggle isn’t punished but met with grace. 

Let your board meetings include a simple moment to ask your pastor or executive how they’re really doing. Not just as a leader—but as a person. 

You’d be surprised how far encouragement can go when it comes from someone with no agenda other than care. 

5. Invest in Soul Care as a Strategic Priority 

At Soul Care, we say it plainly: soul health drives everything. A flourishing leader leads a flourishing ministry. 

If you’re not already making space for soul care in your organization’s operational strategy, here are a few ways to begin: 

• Offer access to Soul Care’s “Soul Health Assessment”—a simple tool to surface what’s often hidden. 
• Provide a burnout recovery track—This is where the rubber meets the road for your particular leader’s burnout recovery. Every situation is unique, but some next steps might include setting a formal policy in place for burnout recovery or engaging a simple process by which a leader can raise their hand for help without fear of job loss. One measurement of progress could be a simple weekly check-in with the board chair (or appointed designee) to gauge the leader's ongoing energy level for a 30 - 90 day period of time. Be sure to explore Soul Care’s “Confronting Burnout” resource for more practical tools and signs to watch. 
• Build soul care into your leader’s job description and calendar. 
• Set aside a portion of your annual budget for soul-level investments. 

Again, consider this a strategic priority. And it is not just about preventing failure. It’s about promoting flourishing. 

Burnout Is Treatable—But Only If You Show Up Early 

You don’t need to wait until the wheels fall off. As a board, you can step in with wisdom, empathy, and intentionality—before the damage becomes permanent. 

The future of your ministry doesn’t just rest on progress reports or spreadsheets. It rests, in many ways, on the soul of your leader. 

Will you care for them? Will you shepherd them, not just as an employee—but as a person? 

Because when boards lead with soul, leaders can flourish again.