The number of pastors who have seriously considered quitting full-time ministry has risen dramatically.
Photo Courtesy: Adrianna Geo (Unsplash.com)
Roughly 42 percent, nearly half, of pastors have seriously considered quitting full-time ministry in 2022. After two years of Covid, increasing societal turmoil and increasing controversy of the church's stance on issues, many pastors are throwing in the towel.
Barna the leading research and resource company on religious stats and trends released an article showing the top reason why pastors have considered quitting. The order is as follows:
The immense stress of the job (53%)
I feel lonely and isolated (43%)
Current political divisions (38%)
I am unhappy with the effect this role has had on my family (29%)
I am not optimistic about the future of my church (29%)
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Upon hearing these startling statistics, I decided to interview a friend of mine. Glenn Walters, pastor of Judah Church in Charlotte and leader other pastors, has been serving in ministry with his wife, Emily Walters for over 25 years. Leader of JIA (Judah International Alliance) in which they partner and train with roughly 300 different ministries around the world, it is safe to say that Walters understands the potential turmoils of ministry.
The interview took place in his humble office. A white table that you would normally see at a family reunion or cook out was his desk. A coffee tumbler, an iPad and cellphone was all that decorated it. Surrounding him were toddlers' toys; Walter's office also served as a new storage area for the church's co-op homeschool. Tuesdays and Thursdays, his office serves as a place for kids to play or for teacher's to put things in. Wednesdays and Fridays were all his. When asked about the "decorations" to his office, his response was simple:
"It's used for the toddlers. I'd much rather have them be comfortable than for me to have a huge office."
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How do you keep yourself from stressing out about ministry? Any advice for other pastors?
Walters: Number one I have to have fun. I am intentional about creating that space. That's a big deal, making sure you have space for that. Number two, when I feel that weight and the stress come over, it is usually because I am trying to force something that God does not want to happen or I'm taking on responsibility that is not my responsibility as a pastor. There are some things that God needs to do and there are some things that other people need to do.
What can a congregation do to help with the stress of a pastor? Can a congregation really help at all?
Walters: It's less about congregation and more about culture. There is an incredible book out there, by Kevin Gerald called By Design or Default, and what he says is that every church has a culture. You are either intentional about the culture you are creating or you are allowing things to be created by default. When we planted this church I was very intentional in making sure that everybody was not counting on me. The church culture's where the pastor has to go to every hospital, every funeral, everything. That is a cultural issue. The culture allowed the congregation to put those demands on that pastor. I don't think that the congregation needs to change; the leader of that congregation needs to change the culture and then the people will follow.
Roughly 6 percent of pastors are experiencing a crisis of faith. What would you say to a pastor who is experiencing a crisis of faith?
Walters: It's okay and God is big enough to answer your questions. I went through this journey once I got out of bible college and into ministry of "is this thing real?" Then I had to jump the hurdle of "is this move of the Spirit real?" Then I had to jump the hurdle of watching God use me or my wife or ministry to bring healing, but I'm still struggling with my own health or my wife's health. And it's okay to have those questions. It's okay to wonder, it's okay to live in that. But do not lose faith just because you have a question about it. I think the responsibility of our role, most people are under the impression that they should never waiver. But, we're human. It's okay to have those questions because God is big enough to handle those even from the ones who should be closest to him.
According to Lifeway, 26 percent of pastors stated having conflict within the church was a reason for them leaving. What's your experience of conflict within the church? How do you deal with conflict within the church?
I would say that 26 percent of them did not leave because of conflict within the church. 26 percent of them left because of the conflict within themselves. If you are called to leadership you are going to deal with conflict. Conflict is a healthy thing. Most of the time change comes at the other end of conflict. If you are the leader and God has ordained and anointed you for this moment, then you are anointed for the conflict. The bible says the Spirit of the sovereign Lord is upon me, He has anointed me to proclaim the good news...(Isaiah 61:1) Everything after that is conflict; to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom to the captives, to release from darkness for the prisoners. That's what the anointing is for.
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