mgpcpastor's blog

Had a conversation a couple of days ago about recognising men with pastoral/preaching gifts.
Both of us conceded the temptation to find excuses about identifying such men because of the peculiar demands of pastoral life.
Thabiti Anyabwile posts the following statistics about pastors: Don’t Make Your Pastor a Statistic?
To dispel any confusion among the mgpc people who read this, let me say that the positions represented by the ‘Hours and Pay’; ‘Health and Well-being’; ‘Marriage and Family’; and ‘Church Relationships’ proposition are not my experience here. I’m not trawling for sympathy. I’m loved, looked after, not overburdened and well provided for. My family and my marriage have been blessed by all the churches of which we’ve been a part.
Which isn’t to say there haven’t been some low spots. Very low spots. But this is life we’re talking about. Everyone has low spots and pastors (and their congregations) shouldn’t expect us to be exempt because we’re performing ‘higher service.’ That’s nonsense.
In reference to the figures below, I will say that the emphases of ministerial training and theological college (trade school) do seem to be somewhat removed from the everyday realities of the calling. But I believe this situation is improving.
So, in posting this I guess I’m asking for prayer for local churches and the people God calls to serve them by providing pastoral leadership to them.
Check out Anyabwile’s conclusions over at his post on the 9Marks blog.

Hours and Pay
90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
70% of pastors feel grossly underpaid.

Training and Preparedness
90% feel they are inadequately trained to cope with the ministry demands.
90% of pastors said the ministry was completely different than what they
thought it would be like before they entered the ministry.

Health and Well-Being
70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
50% of pastors feel so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

Marriage and Family
80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families.
80% of spouses feel the pastor is overworked.
80% spouses feel left out and under-appreciated by church members.

Church Relationships
70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
#1 reason pastors leave the ministry — Church people are not willing to go the same direction and goal of the pastor. Pastors believe God wants them to go in one direction but the people are not willing to follow or change.

Longevity
50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years.
1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.
4,000 new churches begin each year and 7,000 churches close.
Over 1,700 pastors left the ministry every month last year.
Over 1,300 pastors were terminated by the local church each month, many without cause.
Over 3,500 people a day left the church last year.

That’s a sad and alarming picture, isn’t it? Work long hours in a job with too many demands for too little pay. Many have the wrong skills and the wrong expectations. Families being pressured and battered. Pastors are discouraged and depressed. No friends, serious conflict once a month, and people who will not follow. Is it no wonder so many quit so soon?

According to one survey, only 23% of pastors report being happy and content in their identity in Christ, in their church, and in their home.