Startling Statistics about Pastors

Jeff Gauss who wrote the following was one of my seminary classmates and is a church planter of Epiphany Station in Thief River Falls, MN.

Startling Statistics about Pastors

October 17, 2012 by Jeff Gauss

 

While preparing for a workshop I’m leading at our denomination’s annual meeting, I discovered some startling statistics about pastors (really, they are only startling to those who aren’t pastors).
(Below are just a few of the statistics compiled by the Schaeffer Institute in an 18 year long study from 1989-2007. Read the full report HERE.)
Hours and Pay

• 90% of the pastors report working between 55 to 75 hours per week.
• 50% feel unable to meet the demands of the job.
• 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

• 90% of pastors stated they are frequently fatigued, and worn out on a weekly and even daily basis.
• 80% of pastors feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastor.
• 71% of pastors are burned out (beyond normal fatigue).
• 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.
• Only 23% of pastors report being happy and content in their identity in Christ, in their church, and in their home.

Spirituality

• 72% of the pastors we surveyed stated that they only studied the Bible when they were preparing for sermons or lessons. This left only 38% who read the Bible for devotions and personal study.
• 26% of pastors said they regularly had personal devotions and felt they were adequately fed spirituality.

Marriage and Family

• 80% believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families.
• 80% of spouses feel the pastor is overworked.
• 80% of spouses feel left out and under-appreciated by church members.

Church Relationships

• 70% do not have someone they consider a close friend.
• 40% report serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.

Longevity

• 80% of seminary and Bible school graduates will leave the ministry within 5 years.
• Only 10% of pastors will actually retire as a minister in some form.
• Over 1,500 pastors leave the ministry every month.
• Over 1,300 pastors are terminated by the local church each month.
• 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

Click through to read the rest of Jeff's thoughts.