 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
What if …
In my lifetime I have seen many union strikes and their impact from many perspectives from airline workers, teachers, air traffic controllers, medical care workers, and telecommunications workers, to name a few. What do you think would be the impact on American churches if 4 out of ten pastors quit the ministry this month?
The truth is… this could happen as 40% of the pastors surveyed through Focus on the Family reported thinking about leaving their pastorates in the past three months! (Source: Pastors at Risk, H.B. London, Jr. & Neil B. Wiseman, Victor Books, 1993, page 35.)
|
|
|
Reality Check:
The following is a list of facts about pastors and their family:
- 90% of pastors say they were not adequately trained to cope with the ministry demands.
- 50% say they feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
- 80% of pastors and 83% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their roles.
- 80% of adult children of pastors have had to seek professional help for depression.
- 45% of pastors’ wives say the greatest danger to them is physical, emotional, mental and spiritual burnout.
- Churchgoers expect their pastor to juggle an average of 16 major tasks.
- Pastors who work fewer than 50 hours a week are 35% more likely to be terminated.
- 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
- 53% of pastors’ wives say they have difficulties raising children.
- The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professionals.
Read More
(Sources: Dan Reiland, The Pastor’s Coach, John C. LaRue, Christianity Today, Arch Hart, Fuller Theological Seminar, Lifelines Newsletter a LifeWay Publication, Faith Communities Today, Barna Research Online, Leadership Journal, The Alban Institute, and Focus on the Family)
|
|
