Here’s Why Most Protestant Pastors Leave Ministry
Despite the stress and long hours, only 1 percent of U.S. Protestant pastors leave the ministry each year, a new Lifeway Research study found. Among pastors from four denominations who step down, 40 percent said it was related to a change in their calling. Other leading causes are:
- Conflict in a church (18 percent);
- Burnout (16 percent);
- Family issues (10 percent);
- Personal finances (10 percent);
- Illness (6 percent);
- Being a poor fit with a church (6 percent);
- Not being able to find a church that was a good fit (4 percent);
- Denominational issues (4 percent); and,
- The church closing or issues related to the pandemic (3 percent).
“Because social media tend to spread current stories that are far from normative, we run the risk of becoming convinced of falsehoods about pastors today,” said Scott McConnell, executive director of Lifeway Research. “This research study provides uncommon access to a reliable sample from four denominations of those who left the pastorate early, and the most frequent reason for stepping away from the senior pastor role is God’s leadership to do so.”
A Barna Research survey in 2022 found that 42% of pastors have considered quitting ministry and while it may have been connected to Covid, many of the underlying elements remain.
Despite stepping away from the pulpit, half of former pastors still are working in the ministry, just in a role other than pastor. One-third work in a non-ministry role. Few took early retirement (7 percent), disability (3 percent), are currently looking for work (2 percent) or have some other employment situation (2 percent).
“It’s not surprising to see the majority of former pastors still working in ministry,” McConnell said . “In addition to many feeling called to their new role, the majority of current Protestant pastors say they have limited non-ministry work experience, with six in 10 having worked outside of ministry for 10 years or less before becoming a pastor.”
As former pastors reflected on their time in the ministry, they highlighted many areas of concern. Many felt pressure from the congregation. Most (53 percent) felt the church had unrealistic expectations of them. Around one-third didn’t feel free to say no when expectations of them were unrealistic.
When asked what advice they have for current pastors to help them thrive in ministry, former pastors are most likely to tell those still leading churches to prioritize marriage and family (20 percent); spend time with God and read his word (16 percent); and remember their calling and trust God (14 percent).
“It is important to notice what former pastors do not give as advice: They do not encourage pastors to do more themselves,” McConnell said. “Trusting in God and taking time to care for their family and themselves make up most of the advice.”
–Dwight Widaman
