Protestant Pastors Show Greater Stability After Pandemic Exodus
The exodus of pastors from the ministry that began during the pandemic appears to be over.
“Some 24 percent of U.S. senior Protestant pastors say they have seriously considered leaving full-time ministry within the past year — a decline from the peak levels recorded during the height of the pandemic era,” the State of the Church report from Barna Research found. “While still a substantial share of leaders, the decrease signals a meaningful shift after several years marked by intense vocational strain.”
As recently as fall 2023, more than half of the religious leaders surveyed by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research’s said they seriously considered leaving pastoral ministry at least once since 2020. This share was significantly higher than the 37 percent of pastors who reported in 2021 that they had similar thoughts since 2020. About 44 percent of the pastors also said they seriously considered leaving their congregations at least once since 2020.
The pandemic was not the only factor driving recent trends.
“As churches stabilize, many pastors report recalibrating expectations, gaining greater clarity around what is sustainable and where boundaries are necessary,” according to Barna. “Congregations are also rediscovering rhythms of worship and community that were disrupted for years, reducing the constant sense of emergency leadership.”
READ: Pandemic effect was both good and bad for churches
In 2022, Barna researchers found that more than half of pastors who considered quitting full-time ministry in the previous year said “the immense stress of the job” was a huge factor behind their thinking. Beyond those general stressors, 43 percent of pastors reported that “I feel lonely and isolated” and 38 percent said “current political divisions” made them think about leaving the pulpit.
However, the decline in the share of pastors who feel like quitting does not necessarily mean the challenges they face in ministry have been resolved.
“A meaningful minority of leaders still feel close to the edge, and younger pastors in particular remain vulnerable to burnout,” the report said. “But the shift matters. Pastoral stability is closely tied to congregational health. When pastors can envision a future in ministry, churches benefit from continuity, trust, and long-term formation. When leaders exit under prolonged strain, congregations often absorb the cost — spiritually, relationally and organizationally.”
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
