Pastors in Peril
I was privileged to lead a wonderful church for nearly 35 years. That I was able to do so, however, is tragically rare.
The majority of those who shared my vocation did not share my celebration. Indeed, the median tenure of pastors is 6 years.
It’s not just that pastors move on from their churches. Many of them move out of ministry completely.
The fact is, pastors today are in peril. Consider these 2016 figures compiled by the Schaeffer Institute:
Hours and Pay
90% of pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
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 and under-appreciated by church members.
Longevity
50% of the ministers starting out will not last 5 years.
Over 1,700 pastors leave the ministry every month.
That’s a sad and alarming picture, isn’t it? And for those who choose to stick it out, according to one survey, only 23% of pastors report being happy and content in the ministry.
There is so much that I would like to say in light of this. And perhaps some of these thoughts will fill future posts.
But for now, let me make one suggestion. I’d like to make an appeal for pastors to seek and for church boards to allow for an annual renewal and study break.
Why allow for an annual renewal and study break
Now…I know that this might receive some push-back from some. I heard it myself. “Why should the pastor get time off? I don’t get any time off. He’s no different from me.”
Yet that’s not true. Consider the following:
1. A pastor has emotional highs and lows, unlike most other vocations.
In the course of a day, a pastor can deal with both birth and death, great encouragement and petty criticisms, marriage crises, staff issues, and financial shortfall. The emotional roller coaster is draining. A renewal break allows for replenishment.
2. Pastors are on 24-hour call.
Pastors don’t have an “off” switch. They go to sleep with the knowledge they could be awakened by a phone call at any time of the day. Vacations are rarely uninterrupted. A renewal break offers at least the possibility of extended rest.
3. Pastors need time of uninterrupted study.
Church members expect sermons that reflect much prayer and study. The pastor’s schedule often works against that ideal. There is always the sudden crisis or need of the moment which makes long-range planning a pipe dream. A renewal break can offer much-needed study time.
4. Pastors who have renewal breaks have longer tenure at churches.
Though my information is anecdotal, I do see the trend. I feel confident that pastors who have renewal breaks are much more likely to stay at a church because they are less likely to experience burnout.
5. Pastors who have renewal breaks view the time off as an affirmation from their churches.
I have heard from many pastors who share with me a sentence similar to this one: “I know my church loves me because they give me an annual renewal break.”
It is estimated that only about 5% of churches offer any sort of annual renewal break. In almost every one of these cases with which I am familiar, the relationship between pastor and congregation is very healthy. I think that at least one of the reasons is the love shown and the recovery seen.
All this being the case, the real question becomes: Why not allow for an annual time of renewal and study?
Every church wants a healthy pastor. And every pastor I know longs to be healthy. As such, every elder board or governing body should encourage their pastor to take some time for rest and renewal that he might return the refreshed leader that God intends for the church.
Every church wants a healthy pastor. And every pastor longs to be healthy. As such every elder board should encourage their pastor to take time for rest and renewal that he might return the refreshed leader God intends for the church.
One more thought regarding that. I believe this time should be apart from the pastor’s personal vacation. All too often, those days are spent (and rightly so) investing in one’s wife and kids or fulfilling some extended family obligations. As a result, many times the pastor returns having once again poured himself out for others.
The true renewal/study break allows for a time when the leader can be unapologetically committed to resting, abiding, and envisioning. It’s in this season that refreshing can be truly realized.
Lest you think I’m speaking of this theoretically, in my next post I will share how a renewal break salvaged my ministry.
The Everyday Pastor Blog is brought to you by our partners.
To support Dave DeSelm Ministries by becoming a partner, CLICK HERE.