Navigating Chronic Pain While Ministering
By Jasmine Ray-Symms, MA, Certified Lay Minister
For CRCC clergy who live with chronic pain, the pressures of ministry can intensify. Pain that others cannot see still shapes daily life, emotional well-being, and the capacity to lead with steadiness and compassion.
This resource was created through a partnership between the General Commission on Religion and Race (GCORR) and the Disability Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church, joining commitments to racial justice and disability equity. Together, we seek to name the realities CRCC clergy face, honor the cultural differences that shape how pain is expressed and understood, and offer guidance that supports clergy in caring for themselves and their communities.
Our hope is that this resource helps CRCC leaders recognize their experiences, find language for what often goes unseen, and claim practices that sustain their ministry with gentleness, dignity, and courage.
by Jasmine Ray-Symms, MA, Certified Lay Minister
According to the CDC 2023 National Health Interview Survey:
24.3% of U.S. adults experience chronic pain (≈ 60 million people).
8.5% experience high‑impact chronic pain, meaning it frequently limits work or daily activities.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db518.htm
I have gastroparesis. My stomach is partially paralyzed, so I don’t digest food properly. It is not obvious to others, but it greatly impacts my life. Every morning I wake up and my first thought is “my stomach hurts!” Undigested food ferments in my stomach causing sulfur burps and cramping. I’m rarely without any pain and when I’m in a flare – caused by not following the strict diet or it happens to be Thursday – the pain increases to a 7 or 8 on the pain scale. I rely heavily on soups and smoothies as liquids allow gravity to take food through my digestive system, and it’s an easy way to get the nutrients I need. I also eat frequent small meals throughout the day instead of three larger ones.
Chronic pain is a non-apparent disability. It impacts our daily life but isn’t obvious to others. It doesn’t negate the seriousness of the disability. Its effects are felt both physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. There are high rates of anxiety and depression that can increase the risk of suicidal thoughts.
Significance of mental health topic to cross-racial/cross-cultural ministry
Chronic pain is more common in:
Women
Older adults
American Indian and Alaska Native adults
People living in poverty
Rural residents
While chronic pain is seen cross-culturally, it is expressed differently. How it appears or whether people “should” feel pain varies. Racial/ethnic minorities are treated differently, facing greater skepticism. Some people with chronic pain are frequently dismissed as “drug seeking”.
It is important to keep cultural differences in mind when serving those with chronic pain and to be sensitive to these differences yourself. There is no right way to deal with chronic pain. You aren’t inherently “bad” to need help and support. You don’t have to be stoic.
Points for consideration
Set the example for others. You don’t have to bury your pain out of fear of rejection or judgement. You can use it to increase your empathy for others who suffer as you do.
Teach others to recognize. You can’t always see how others are coping.
Be kind, don’t judge. Everyone deals with chronic pain differently.
Assume positive intent. Always assume people are doing their best.
Practice self-care. Eat well, exercise, and get enough sleep. Find things to help you relax like meditation or creating mandalas.
Set appropriate boundaries. Sometimes, your ability to minister with chronic pain depends on understanding it’s okay to say “no”. Take breaks when you need to. Bad days will happen. If you’re having a bad pain day, and need to rest and heal, do it. Always be gentle with yourself.
Ministering to others. Acknowledge people cope with chronic pain in different ways. When ministering, share examples of non-apparent disabilities and the impact of cultural differences.
Chronic pain impacts us, but it doesn’t have to define us. We can use it to empathize with others in their struggles.
Additional Resources
Healthy People 2030 – Chronic Pain Evidence‑Based Resources: https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/chronic-pain
ACPA – Stanford Resource Guide To Chronic Pain Management: acpa_stanford_resource_guide_2024.pdf
Apparent Disabilities Fact Sheet: https://idrpp.usu.edu/projects/accessibilityhealth/files/Non-Apparent_Disabilities_FactSheet_Definitions_Categories.pdf