CONSENT FORM
Title of the Project: “Counseling by Default: A Study of Pastoral Burnout Among Liberian Pastors”
Principal Investigator: Helen Gibson-Newman, Liberty University
Doctor of Ministry/School of Divinity
You are invited to be in a research study on “Counseling by Default: A Study of Pastoral Burnout Among Liberian Pastors. You were selected as a possible participant because you are a pastor of a Unity Light Ministry Network (Unity Community Church) congregation in Kakata, Liberia, who regularly performs pastoral counseling. Please read this form and ask any questions you may have before agreeing to be in the study.
Helen Gibson-Newman, a doctoral candidate in the Doctor of Ministry/School of Divinity at Liberty University, is conducting this study.
Background Information: The purpose of this study is to conduct a study of indigenous pastors of Unity Light Ministry Network (Unity Community Church), who counsels by default, which helps the researcher critically analyze the study results and suggest ways to improve the ministry situation to prevent stress and burnout. This research contributes to pastoral counseling because there is no academic study on avoiding stress and burnout among Liberian pastors who perform counseling of church members as part of their ministerial duties.
Procedures: If you agree to be in this study, I would ask you to complete an anonymous Burnout Inventory, which should take 15 to 20 minutes for the burnout inventory.
Risks: The risks involved in this study are minimal, which means they are equal to the risks you would encounter in everyday life.
Benefits: Participants should not expect to receive a direct benefit from taking part in this study.
Compensation: Participants will not be compensated for participating in this study.
Confidentiality: The records of this study will be kept private. Research records will be stored securely, and only the researcher will have access to the records.
· Participants will not include their names, email addresses, congregation names, or other personally identifiable information on the survey. The surveys are anonymous.
· Data will be stored on a password-locked computer and may be used in future presentations. I will delete the data after three years.
· I will also download and print out the completed surveys and store them in a locked filing cabinet in my home office. I will shred the data after three years.
Voluntary Nature of the Study: Participation in this study is voluntary. Your decision on whether or not to participate will not affect your current or future relations with Liberty University or Unity Light Ministry Network (Unity Community Church). If you decide to participate, you are free to not answer any questions or withdraw at any time prior to submitting your survey.
How to Withdraw from the Study: If you choose to withdraw from the study, please exit the survey and close your internet browser. Your responses will not be recorded or included in the study.
Contacts and Questions: The researcher conducting this study is Helen Gibson-Newman. You may ask any questions you have now. If you have questions later, you are encouraged to contact him at (703) 371-2292 and hgibsonnewman@liberty.edu. You may also contact the researcher’s faculty chair, Dr. Richard McFarland, at rcmcfarland@liberty.edu.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this study and would like to talk to someone other than the researcher, you are encouraged to contact the Institutional Review Board, 1971 University Blvd., Green Hall Ste. 2845, Lynchburg, VA 24515 or email at irb@liberty.edu.
Please notify the researcher if you would like a copy of this information for your records.