Did you know that 80 percent of pastors are discouraged in their role as pastors? Forty percent of pastors seriously considered leaving the ministry in the last three months.
Did you know that for every twenty pastors who go into the ministry, only one retires from the ministry?
Did you know that forty-five percent of pastors say they have experienced burnout or depression to the extent that they need to take a leave of absence?
Christianity Today Magazine had an excellent and extensive article recently on clergy burnout. This one paragraph got my attention: “One of the real hard things for pastors across the country is that our role tends to be treated as relationally disposable. We value pastors when they give us what we need or want, but when we think we need something else, suddenly they are inhuman. They’re a religious commodity to be unsubscribed from.” (May/June 2022, page 48)
The result of all this? Consider this statement from Relevant Magazine: “Religious groups across the country are currently witnessing its clergy members step down from the pulpit without a replacement ready to take their spot in vast numbers.” (February 2022)
Please believe me, I am not writing this for sympathy. I love being a pastor. I really do. I have been in the ministry for 42 years. But I have to admit that it is not always an easy calling. The casualty rate can be pretty high.
So, if you don’t mind, in addition to praying for so many other important concerns today, let’s take a minute to pray for pastors in our community!