About one-third of you readers are laypersons. This article is for you. Of course, I know pastors and other vocational ministry leaders will be reading as well. Perhaps, more than my article, they will be reading your comments. They will be searching eagerly to see if anyone has a word of encouragement. They may be anticipating the responses will be a barrage of negativity they have become accustomed to receiving.
Please hear me clearly. The vast majority of pastors with whom our team communicates are saying they are considering quitting their churches. It’s a trend I have not seen in my lifetime. Some are just weeks away from making an announcement. They are looking for work in the secular world. Some will move to bivocational ministry. Some will move to marketplace ministry.
But many will move.
Why has this period of great discouragement ensued? Of course, it is connected to COVID-19, but the pandemic really just exacerbated trends already in place. We would have likely gotten to this point in the next three to five years regardless.
I also want you to know that these pastors do not think they will be leaving ministry. They just believe the current state of negativity and apathy in many local churches is not the most effective way they can be doing ministry.
So, they are leaving or getting ready to leave. There are many reasons why, but allow me to share the top six reasons, understanding that they are not mutually exclusive.
- Pastors are weary from the pandemic, just like everyone else. Pastors are not super humans. They miss their routines. They miss seeing people as they used to do so. They would like the world to return to normal, but they realize the old normal will not return.
- Pastors are greatly discouraged about the fighting taking place among church members about the post-quarantine church. Gather in person or wait? Masks or no masks? Social distancing or not? Too many church members have adopted the mindset of culture and made these issues political fights. Pastors deal daily with complaints about the decisions the church makes.
- Pastors are discouraged about losing members and attendance. For sure, it’s not all about the numbers. But imagine your own mindset if one-half or more of your friends stopped engaging with you. And pastors have already heard directly or indirectly from around one-fourth of the members that they do not plan to return at all.
- Pastors don’t know if their churches will be able to support ministries financially in the future. In the early stages of the pandemic, giving was largely healthy. Church members stepped up. Government infusion of funds for businesses and consumers helped as well. Now, the financial future is cloudy. Can the church continue to support the ministries they need to do? Will the church need to eliminate positions? These issues weigh heavily on pastors.
- Criticisms against pastors have increased significantly. One pastor recently shared with me the number of criticisms he receives are five times greater than the pre-pandemic era. Church members are worried. Church members are weary. And the most convenient target for their angst is their pastor.
- The workload for pastors has increased greatly. Almost every pastor with whom we communicate expresses surprise at their level of work since the pandemic began. It really makes sense. They are trying to serve the congregation the way they have in the past, but now they have the added responsibilities that have come with the digital world. And as expected, pastoral care needs among members have increased during the pandemic as well.
Pastors are burned out, beaten up, and downtrodden.
Many are about to quit.
You may be surprised to discover your pastor is among them.
Posted on August 31, 2020
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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427 Comments
Unfortunately, it isn’t just the pastors. All of these factors can weigh in on any decision-maker who is currently in leadership, whether it’s a pastor, deacon, or lay leader within a church. Churches as a whole, especially smaller ones, are asking a whole lot of key individuals who are ready for a break. Not because the work isn’t worth doing, but because the demands placed on them are done so without mercy, understanding, or a willingness to share in the work. With the exception of financial concerns, I personally know individuals who are ready to step away from their church without looking back, none are pastors, all are saying the same things in this article.
I was just so sad when I read this. Pastor please know that I am praying for you. Praying that our God who is full of mercy and grace would bring you comfort and peace. These are the end times I sent a message to my sisters last week and I would like to share it with you, it seems appropriate given this article.
I was thinking last night, that we have been charged with watching and waiting for his return, this entails us to do what we have been called to do. Spread the message of the gospel. I think that the devil has created all this Noise around politics that has divided the church and our country. It has caused people who know and don’t know Jesus to turn away. This Noise that the devil has created is a distraction it keeps us from the word of God, it changes our conversation from him to politics, it keeps us from doing what we have been called to do. I was convicted. I pray that the Sound of our Saviors voice would drown out the noise that We would run to the word of God and simply obey.
Pastors, I WILL NOT STOP PRAYING FOR YOU! I pray that the sound of my saviors voice would comfort you, give you courage and strength. I am not alone praying the whole Army of God is on its knees.
Love in Christ
Your sister
C. Bell
I feel that the “seeker friendly” model has weakened our churches and contributed to the average attendee being or becoming a consumer who wants to be entertained or encouraged for 1.5 hrs on a Sunday. When I was born again in 1984, I came from a Catholic background into a thriving, spirit led church that relied heavily on expository teaching from God’s Word. I did not know the Bible but I learned quickly! I was hungry for God and for His Truth. The praise and worship was true praise and worship and there was not a minute by minute agenda of when it would end and teaching would begin and end. The leaders were led by the Holy Spirit and He was welcome to enjoy our praise for as long as we would worship; and He clearly led the pastor’s teaching – there were no overhead scriptures (we actually carried our bibles and used them), and there were no fill in the blank bulletin inserts. We took our own notes in our own journals. We were serious about learning the Word and serving our King! Our Church desperately needs a revival. It NEEDS change. We must stop the building of our own little kingdoms and focus on the ONE King and His Kingdom purposes for such a time as this. I believe God will use all the chaos that is going on in our culture to bring true believers to our knees to once again welcome His presence and His agenda!
I am Saddened but not surprised by your article. More so, I am deeply grieved by the Uncaring comments from readers. For many years pastors have been criticized rather than praised by their congregations. The average member knows little of the pressure his pastor is under and as your article points out the pandemic has only exacerbated this.Our pastors need our prayers and our encouragement and our help. This is a season for members to step up and ask how they can help for. With increased workload and cutbacks and staff churches need more volunteers to call and encourage and she would love to their pastors and help carry the burden the church is not only the pastor but its members expressing love to one another. The enemy would love nothing more than to see churches divided and closed. It’s time For us to remember they will know we are Christians by our love for one another for Jesus Christ and for our the shepherds He has called to lead us.
Being an armchair quarterback is great! You can sit in your favorite chair and point your pointy fingers at whomever you choose and criticize them until the cows come home (and if you don’t have any cows, it can be nonstop!) And, a lot of folks love to do just that! Especially church folks.
Being a pastor in 2020 is nothing like what it used to be NOR WHAT IS SHOULD BE.
1. The cost of running a church is exorbitant to the point of prohibitive.
2. The practice of running a church is done “on the job”. There are no practice rounds.
3. The educational and expected expertise level required to run a church is unnecessarily and unfairly high.
4. The environment for running a church is competitive.
1. The church member in 2020 is more of a consumer than an adherent or a loyal member.
2. The church member in 2020 is more demanding.
3. The church member in 2020 has too many choices of churches.
4. The church member in 2020 is neither a disciple nor a disciple maker.
1. The pastor in 2020 is expected to be a CEO, CFO, a Psychologist, a marriage counselor, a motivational guy, everybody’s best friend., etc. at the PHD level. It is unreasonable and unbiblical.
2. The pastor in 2020 is pioneering in uncharted waters and they can be and are treacherous.
3. The pastor in 2020 is under scrutiny by the membership and the secular world. He has few defenders.
4. The pastor in 2020 has no local-church-job-security, just a board to answer to if things go wrong.
And then there is Jesus:
1. Jesus only did what He heard and saw His Father doing.
2. Jesus was not a CEO or anything else of this world.
3. And, what was Jesus’ seminary education and requirements for the disciples?
4. And what was Jesus’ financial backing, fund raising efforts, special offering requests?
5. And what was Jesus’ political stance?
6. And who was Jesus’ board of directors?
7. And what was Jesus method of advertising?
The payoff for Jesus was death on a cross. And, perhaps you were expecting…….?
“So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” John 20:21
JUST DO AS JESUS DID AND EXPECT NO LESS THAN WHAT HE GOT! (Or, yes, retire or quit)
We are being shaken in these last days. The Church is being purged, purified and refined (Daniel 12:10) and readied as a Bride for The Groom. Hold tight to your confession. Pray for your pastor to follow Jesus and abide in His Shelter for this storm and the STORM to come!
Your Brother and Friend,
Mike Young
https://www.whitestone2020.com/
Two of our three pastors are bi-vocational in two of the hardest professions outside of ministry. One is a policeman in our town, and a very compassionate one at that. The other is a middle school teacher. The third is a parent of a kindergartner, No I wouldn’t trade places with either of them. They have all 3 been rocks through all of this stuff. I love and appreciate all of them and their families. I pray for them regularly, as we all should, but most importantly, tell them regularly how appreciated they truly are.
Thank you, I know that just hearing that will encourage your pastoral staff. Thank you again.
God Bless you
Yes, our church is experiencing the results of the pandemic issues. Yes, folks are worried and concerned
about what is happening and going on. Our pastor is truly working with The Lord involved in every decision made for the parishioners and the Church as a whole. I truly stand with him and respect him
as he makes the decisions. He has stood by me in sickness and in good health, I would be remiss be remiss by not reciprocating.
Those six reasons can’t make a pastor called by God quit the ministry.
Please don’t reduce pastor to that.
God bless you Pastors
I think, for reasons of brevity and space, Brother Thom was using a “broad brush” approach. He could have put an ETC., at the end of #6.
The “Golden Age” of church and being a pastor is over. There will be many fewer in number, but, those God has called will complete the Calling.
Pray for Thom Rainer. He’s doing what most can’t or won’t.
Respectfully.
Brother Mike Young (pastor, evangelist)
How very sad this is to read but i surely understand it fully – contributions to the church were never glowing but now that many have a ‘real’ excuse they have dried up significantly – so very sad
This is expected. Why because everything has become religious, not everyone is preachibg the Word , many church does want the Holy Spirit in their churches, they ask God to show up and when He does the don’t want Him to manifest Himself. So many churches are operating without the Holy Spirit.
Another thing is not preachong the Word of God, they preach what they think the congregation wants to hear. This one of the reasons why covid-19 got us off guard. It is written in the bible that many will leave the ministry in theses times, so by them leaving they are fulfilling the prophecy.
What needs to be done is that everyone takes this time to meditate on God’s word. God will provide all our needs.
I have a question as a lay person (and by my “name,” I’m not disappointed in my pastor, but in church members who expect so much personal catering and make things difficult). Can pastors ask lay members to assist with some of these “duties” the church members expect them to perform? Create phone trees? Assign people to check in on the quarantined? After all, as church members we are supposed to BE THE CHURCH, not expect to just receive the church as a service.
When the pandemic started, I offered to help with any seniors who couldn’t shop, get meals, etc. I was referred to a local, secular organization performing these functions. This was perfectly fine, as I know everyone was scrambling when this started back in March; nevertheless, I wonder if some pastors are making the best use of able and willing volunteers who could take some of the weight off their shoulders.
Saddens my heart to read this, but I am aware of this. We the body of Christ we are now living in the times that our sermon are now our reality so if we quit now what will become. So many have shared with me that now more than ever they don’t feel like the place they attend worship for years can no longer relate to them due racial injustice that are silent in most pews. Let us continue to pray for Pastors all over and the entire body of Christ. Lord Jesus strengthen our Pastor in these trying times