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
Where is your calling? Serve God and preach the WORD whether people agree or not. God provides the increase.
Work as unto God not man! Preaching the Word as presented by our Lord Jesus, will make you happy in Spirit. Praise God! Peace to you pastors.amen
as a pastor, I do understand the frustration many have, but I must be in a unique situation. My staff is upbeat about the future, our congregation is encouraging and supportive. Attendance is still not what it was, but it is climbing. Finances have never been better. I want to retire, but know that is not what God wants, so I will continue until he says stop!
Pastor Robb
Many of the problems are not new.. They have been just below the surface for a long time… The flu ordeal has turned the inflammation into an open wound. Frustration,fear, anger, disappointment, etc. has made normally mild mannered people
much more apt to express themselves more vocally than they used to. The lack of civility has raised its ugly head in so many areas, not just churches.. School administrators are being pummeled as well as law enforcement, etc. I pray for all those who must deal with this problem.
I read and I understand. I am so grateful for my Pastor and I respect his decisions. I encourage anyone who’s feeling oppose decisions made by the pastor. God gave us pastors and quite frankly, my struggle would be so much difficult without my pastor and church family. I need them. Continually I pray for their strength.
Thanks for posting. I’ve been a pastor for 41 years. This is SPOT ON !!
Hi Tom,
Great article and insight. YES, it is getting ugly out here. I am open to leaving any time……65 now and ready to retire IF things continue. However, I think many pastors and churches are also failing to see the Church is under a spiritual attack that lands on the pastors ALONE. Many governors are going out of their way to discourage the Church from meeting and making it “non-essential”. This attack, along with the new apathetic “livestream groups” that sits at home and drinks coffee on Sunday is very demoralizing. Pastors like me are feeling “why put up with this?” YES, we continue for our Lord and His call, but you can see how the Church in America is being dismantled before our eyes on several levels….and pastors are a focus for sure. I think many pastors get this Tom, but church members today are largely clueless and fail to see what will happen IF the Church doesn’t step up their commitment and support of their pastors and churches. Clearly these are prophetic patterns unfolding that lead to what the Bible says will happen at the end of the age.
As a pastor, can I offer you an insight about the belief that “governors are going out of their way to discourage the Church from meeting and making it ‘non-essential’.” Much of the guidance and recommendations about churches gathering is done in consultation with denominational and non-denominational leadership in consultation with epidemiologists. Since there are indications that virus spread is a function of proximity to a potential source and the duration of possible exposure. Even if you keep your worship to under an hour that is still almost 4 times the “safe” duration of exposure (which is currently identified as 15 minutes).
In checking the biography of your governor (Wisconsin) there is no blatant statement against religion and religious organizations. In fact, it may be surprising but state government tend to find religious organizations to be beneficial, even if they aren’t practitioners of the faith. Why? Because faith communities do things that government cannot afford to do and does not have the resources to do. So would it be in the state’s interest to shut religion down? No.
The nature of worship and faith communities is one where boundaries aren’t well observed – I’ve heard of funerals where 50 people were present and, until the end of the service they practiced social distancing. Once the service was over everyone descended on the widow and started hugging and shaking hands. Not the ideal way to be safe by the recommendations of most public health officials.
One thing to consider to be of encouragement to yourself and your congregation is stop making the governor the target of your frustration. All that does is create a false “us vs. them” situation. The reality is, the state thrives when things are open, even tax-exempt churches. Because people on the road generates tax dollars and business opportunity. By partnering with those who are outside your control who make tough decisions there may be opportunities and chances to witness to God’s grace at work.
Thank you, Lee, for this much-needed and accurate (and kind-spirited) reply. Trying to make restrictions for public health reasons into attacks on religion are not helpful, nor are they godly. If I had a pastor giving me that kind of spiritual guidance right now, I would be wondering about finding a different spiritual advisor.
Paul was a tent maker in ministry so there is nothing wrong with a pastor holding a secular job and ministering as well. This greatly increases his ministry field without tge added financial burden of maintaining a building and members who just want to be fed
Ben, I am grateful for your comment and concur strongly. After I was compelled to resign from a church 5 years ago (3 of us left… and yes we were all “clean”), I stepped into the world of marketplace ministry and made a significant discovery. It is possible to effectively shepherd people and hold a “secular” job. After 5 years, I would even argue that in many ways it is healthier (for pastor and church). I am no longer a party planner, a social director, or bean counter. The church I server is not an 80/20 church, in fact every member is meaningfully connected and serves. I never thought I would see the day. We don’t own property (we don’t want to) and there are no salaries to pay. Church planting is hard in its own right for sure, but I have no desire to go back.
I’m not sure how much longer “traditional” churches can hold out financially or otherwise. It may be time to prayerfully rethink what the American church has been doing, and not be afraid to access our methods and practices.
Pastors have extra work right now and your response is basically “go get a job”? I can promise that won’t give them less stress.
I can see how Pastors feel overwhelmed and alone with the weight of the church and the community resting on them. I took the church i am presently at in November 2019 and have seen how the church can fall away, but i also have seen how it can come together. As long as the faith is greater than the fear and the Pastor holds the position that this is God’s house. It is easy to give up and walk away into something you own. I for one see this as God’s place the church that he has chosen me serve at. God has entrusted me to grow it no mater the outside atmosphere and no matter if the outcome appears to be unsavory. I think of all the prophets that God had sent out to warn the people of Israel and how it felt on death ears. Yet God kept sending them to warn them. I for one don’t want to fail God to step down and walk away to what he has given me. God deserves everything i have even if it requires my life. Too often good weather leaderships depart when life or the ministry become more to bare. This ministry I am a part of is not of me. It’s of God and the failures within it is on me and the successes if of God. Pastors and me included in the past put such a burden on all the working parts of the church but we forget that God is in control we are to man the church and be he is the head. Being a pastor of a church is like Moses leadings the people of Israel in the wilderness. We must let God guide us and lead us so we can guilds and lead our congregation.
WELL SAID.
MY WIFE AND I ARE LEADERS IN OUR CHURCH
HER AN ASSOCIATE PASTOR AND ME A DEACON
WE HAVE BEEN IN HERE IN NORMAN OKLAHOMA
4 YEARS .
WE HAVE SEEN OUR PASTOR BEAT UP VERBALLY/CUSSED AT BY A DEACON LEAVING THE CHURCH FAMILY
SINCE WE STREAM LINE ON FACE BOOK AND THE INTERNET, PASTOR GET A LOT OF HATEFUL
EMAILS AND COMMENTS
EVEN YESTERDAY HE TOLD ALL OF US LEADERS HE WAS THINKING FOR REAL ABOUT QUITTING
SINCE COVID-19 WE HAVE SEEN A GREAT FALLING AWAY AND OUR FRIENDS IN MINISTRY AT OTHER CHURCHES HAVE TOLD US THE SAME ABOUT THEIR CHURCHES
WE ARE IN THE END TIMES/DAYS-DEMONS ARE AT WORK
WE ALL NEED DAILY TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD AND ESPECIALLY KEEP OUR SHIELDS OF FAITH UP HIGH REGARDLESS HOW HEAVY IT SEEMS AND WITH GODS GRACE AND HELP WE CAN INDURE TO THE END..AMEN!
Our Pastor, Mark Bender has been outstanding throughout this challenging time, and sure he has fielded a number disgruntled members due to the shutdown but he has not lost his enthusiasm and I would say that God is using him in so many other ways. His ability to take God’s word and connect to his flock has been incredible. I’m sorry to here about those who are disenchanted, the devil is dancing in those areas.
Robert, don’t take what you see as what happens in the heart. He can be up and up-beat even while being beaten-up. He needs you to –express– your love and your support of his ministry. The best way is to show meaningful change that has come to your live and family through his ministry. I know that the Lord makes those changes real, but He uses his shepherds to apply God’s Word to you. In a nut-shell, don’t be a –silent– majority.
Just remember when dealing with criticism and the negativity of a member or members: IT’S NOT ABOUT WHAT IT’S ABOUT. We pastors are ready-made targets for the displaced and misplaced fears, anxieties, angers, and frustrations of the Christians we love. Don’t buy into every critical word you receive or folks trangulate about you. And remember also, TRIANGULATION will kill your church! Or make it that “den of vipers” good ol’ John talked about!!! The key is transparency and direct communication…one of the hardest lessons to learn and most resistant elements of organizational life. Bless Jesus for his unwillingness to deny the realities he faced. We must be more like him!
I work with a ministry called “Standing Stone”. We are all about encouraging pastors through times like these. It is absolutely free. We are available one on one to listen, encourage, and pray. All of us are pastors who have been through some type of church pain, and therefore want to be there for others. Unfortunately not enough churches understand the struggles pastors deal with. Love this article. Thank you Thom! More info at standingstoneministry.org
Thank you for this message. I’m old enough to retire, and that is a way of leaving as well. My issue is that I see more clearly that the methods of doing church before the pandemic will not work well, after we return. I see that the Mission is going to require both more willingness to change on the part of my congregation, which I doubt will happen, and realizing that after 46 years of ministry, my skill set will require a great deal of adjustment to make the new mission work. There doesn’t seem to be too many opportunities at the moment for what I would consider a way to move forward. So I contemplate retiring. There is a great challenge there too, what can I do for the Mission after I retire, if I don’t engage in another church somehow? Praying mightily for guidance to move forward. What is necessary to be a missionary to Post Covid culture we are moving to, and how will long will we get some ideas about how we might do that. As I said, praying mightily.
I pray with you for God’s clarity, Jeff.
Jeff, I appreciate your candor and your insight in post-pandemic ministry. I’m at about the same mile post as you are in ministry, so I appreciate what you are saying. May I humbly say that the –mission– hasn’t changed. The Great Commission is still our mission. I think that many accretions that churches have accumulated that have at best not helped forward Christ’s mission, or worse have misdirected energy and resources toward an inward focus, or still worse, the church has failed to engage in evangelizing and further discipling converts into disciple-makers themselves. I believe that the church will need to return to self-replicating disciples (2 Tim. 2:2) in the future to regain its health and vitality. I hope that you and I can be be part of that realignment.