If you have ever wondered why we should spend so much energy on how to care for clergy, take a look at some of these disturbing statistics.
on Parish Clergy Stress
Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod Study:
20% burned out; 20% in advanced stages of burnout. When asked “What is it like being a parish pastor these days?” two-thirds of the responses were negative:
-church conflict – people beating on each other
-mismatch of pastors and congregations
-difficulty of getting help to pastors
-poor support for clergy spouses and children
-low clergy income
-grossly unreasonable expectations of pastor
-infighting, dysfunctional congregations
-congregations where a few members dominated the whole leadership of the congregation
Fuller Institute of Church Growth – surveyed 1,000 pastors:
-80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families
-75% reported a significant stress-related crisis at least once in their ministry
-50% felt unable to meet demands of the job
-90% felt inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands
-70% have a lower self-image than when they began their profession
-50% had considered leaving the ministry within three months prior to the survey
Mark Driscoll 2006 study:
-1500 pastors per month leave ministry due to spiritual burnout, contention, or moral failures
-80% of pastors and 84% of spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors
-50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave ministry if could make other living
-80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter ministry will leave within five years.
For some humorous relief with a serious edge, I invite you to go to either my facebook page or www.youtube.com/stevemccutchan and see a couple of videos that I have posted.
