Six Reasons Why Many Pastors Will Not Leave Their Churches

There is a lot of conversation about pastors dropping out of ministry or, at the very least, leaving their current churches. Yes, there are good reasons for these conversations. Among the reasons is the toll COVID has taken on these leaders and their churches.

But I have been hearing from pastors who are determined to stay at their current churches. In fact, some are more determined than ever to stay right where they are. Here are the six most common reasons we are hearing from pastors. 

  1. The pastors are called to their churches. This reason was the dominant explanation we received. God has not released these pastors from where they are currently serving. In many cases, they have sensed an even greater affirmation from God to remain at their churches.
  2. Their families love their churches and their communities. Most pastors have families. Their spouses and their children are not only happy where they are, but many are also making a gospel difference in their churches and their communities. In many ways, their call to stay is as firm as the pastors’ call.
  3. The pastors love their communities. A call to serve in a local church does indeed begin with the congregation itself. But a call is also a call to live in, serve, and evangelize the communities to which they belong. The communities become the sticky factor for many pastors.
  4.  The pastors don’t have a stepping-stone mentality. More than any point in my lifetime, I see the fading of the greener-grass syndrome among pastors. Bigger is not necessarily better. And though the possible extra income and staffing could provide relief from their current situations, these reasons are not sufficiently compelling for pastors to leave the churches they serve.
  5. Many of the pastors have great relationships in the church. One pastor told us his friendships in the church were the closest he has had in his life. Another pastor shared that many of his church members pray for him daily. He could not imagine leaving the prayer coverage provided by these members.
  6. Sometimes, the pastors have no credible alternatives. This reason is not as positive as the others, but it is a reality for many pastors. They have no other churches inquiring about them. Or their training is totally in vocational ministry, and they have no other marketable skill sets. At least they perceive that they could not do other vocations. 

To be clear, we still see the next few years as a time of heavy turnover among pastors. But we also wanted to be clear that not all pastors are looking to leave.

Many are indeed more determined than ever to stay.

Let us hear from you.

Posted on January 24, 2021


With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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40 Comments

  • Thom,
    Appreciate the conversation about this subject matter. I have been pastoring here at my current ministry for 24 years. I have been through some real storms over the years and my people love me and they respect the office greatly. They have shared on numerous occasions that they have learned to stand and serve faithfully because they saw times when I could have left and no one would have faulted me, but I believed God put me where I am for the purpose of serving the flock as well as feeding the flock and quitting while it may be tempting at times that is just not an option. My one true desire as the undershepherd of this flock my true desire is to understand the time when I have completed my task and then need to step aside so the next undershepherd can effectively step in and carry on.

  • I was planning on retiring in 2021. However, due to pandemic, I have stayed longer to lead our church family through it. I am exhausted, so I am increasing staff to add operational, ministry support while I walk us through. And then, by the will of the Lord, be released to transitioned.

    For some, the pandemic pressed them to leave. For me, it necessitated me staying longer. We don’t leave our family during a crisis.

  • Donald Anderson says on

    After 27+ years in my present church, members of my congregation regularly ask me to stay with them. That has been a cause for my increased desire to continue as their pastor. Some have also shared that they pray that God will leave me here, and He has even though there have been times I thought He might have wanted me to go elsewhere.

  • I’m all in for #1-5. Absolutely no plans to go anywhere else. I absolutely love the staff, the board, our ministry, and what God is doing. And Sunday marks week three of employment!
    Just kidding about that last part. We’ve been here 16 years, and it seems like 4. God is good!

    Keith Robinson

  • John Crowe says on

    If you were seeking to aim at United Methodist clergy not leaving their churches when the UMC splits, then you completely missed the mark.

  • Cotton Mathis says on

    I think it is possible to misread the “time to leave” signs.

    Wanting to stay until children graduate from high school or college when there is significant pressure to leave, or staying until building programs are complete can sometimes be costly decisions.

    Supposed friends who turn on the pastor can be very discouraging and cost pastors their ministries.

    “Friends” turning against the pastor, for me, has been the most difficult thing to deal with in the ministry. How people can do that is beyond me.

    But, it can be a signal it is time to go. When people”close” turn on the pastor, and that word gets out, those on the fringe who are just looking for an excuse to devalue the church so as to excuse their non-commitment will almost always jump on the bandwagon and start gossip that “so-in-so” wants the pastor to leave. “I guess he should go.”
    Frankly, I have seen that too many times and have no idea how to head it off.

    By the time the pastor learns a “friend” has turned on him, it has usually spread too far.

    Cowardly, spiritually ignorant people use that as a “power move” who are by their nature deceivers and two-faced
    hypocrites. But, they have a lot of company in the church. And that can kill a pastor’s ministry and divide allegiances with his family.

    More questions — no answers. I never learned how to deal with those “friends” who turn on the pastor. But, the result often leads to the pastor having to leave.

  • This is absolutely spot on…thank you!

  • Another thing that came to mind is the faithfulness of the Parish. For instance, if the Parish has fought through the pandemic and all the vagaries it has inflicted on common worship, especially alongside their pastor, there is a commitment to ministry not maintenance. That seems to me to be an example of the work being done is effective for the building of the kingdom.

  • Bishop Vernal E. Simms Sr says on

    I have been at a church for over five years. But now I am praying about relocating to Dallas Texas to get married. I am praying about it because she has a great job and her grandchildren live in Dallas and I would not want her to lose that time with them. I am praying for the Lord to give me direction.

  • Some have not received direction from God of what to do next and sadly some can’t just walk away from a steady income for their family’s sake.

  • Thank you for publishing this article, Church Answers. I, like so many others, have been challenged greatly during this pandemic. A friend of mine commented that, while pastors are still seeing the same negatives about the pastorate (i.e. loved church members getting ill and dying, disgruntled church members, a downturn in church attendance and donations), they are not experiencing the positives (i.e. church growth, as many salvations, seeing people that you know, love, and minister to). What has kept me going whenever I feel like quitting is God’s incessant words to me through His Word, songs, and words from others, that He has me where He wants me. He is with me and He will see me through. If that is His plan for me then that must be His plan for His congregation where I serve!

  • I have been at our current assignment for over 36 years and have no intention to move until the Lord prods me or takes me home. I have some longtime pastor friends, however, who have “hung it up.” I’ve tried to be understanding with them in way, but another side of me wants to quote “No many putting his hand to the plow and looking back is fit for the Kingdom of God.

    • Thom Rainer says on

      Thanks for hanging in there, CJ. It is indeed very tough in local church ministry.

    • Hey CJ. 36 years is stunningly impressive! Remember, stepping away from Pastoring doesn’t equate to stepping away from ministry, the church, or the gospel. Keep encouraging them in their love for Christ, it’s likely that they haven’t turned to sin (as your scripture implies), but are tired, wounded, and/or a in need of a stable paycheck for their families.