Mad Church Disease By Anne Jackson Ever ask yourself if working for the church is worth it? Does it ever interfere with your communion with Christ? Anne Jackson surmises that some pastors have asked those questions and more. I met Anne Jackson at the Influence Conference and was impressed with her grasp of the realities of ministry. She articulates well the whole issue of what she calls, “The Burnout Epidemic.” What is amazing to me is that Jackson is a young pastor with an outstanding grasp on how this epidemic is killing the greatest call on earth. Part One of the book opens and fleshes out the comparison of Mad Cow Disease to Mad Church Disease.It is a phenomenal comparison. Its reality is that it sits just below the surface of many of the smiling faces of pastors. The book asked the “Am I at-risk” question and examines the associated symptoms.It probes deeply.Jackson writes of both the internal and external factors in Mad Church Disease. Symptoms should never be overlooked. Believe it or not, the things we see and feel as pastors have been seen and felt before by others. My observation is that this chapter is “Pay Attention Time.” No book would be worth its grain of salt if it did not present solutions. Mad Church Disease does just that in describing five principles of recovery. Everything from accepting responsibility to changing boundaries to things in between gives the pastor a road map to recovery. A unique feature of Jackson’s writing is her use of interviews of leading pastors across the country. Q & A’s with Bill Hybles, Perry Noble, Wayne Cordeiro and others open the reader’s eyes to the real pastoral life and response of real pastors on the journey. This book is outstanding for every pastor serious about preventing Mad Church Disease in their own life.