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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428 Comments
I’ve been in and out of ministry for 40 years, always bi-vocational. Have seen men I’ve served under walk away either because of family issues or the pain of church politics. I’ve experienced the politics as well but still look to serve. My current senior pastor recently told our leadership teams he plans to retire in the next year or so. I know the current status of the country and church are wearing heavily on him. Along with that how fear is being accepted instead of faith. I agree with him and regret that he’s decided to go. I do believe he has not made a prayerless decision. He’s a good and Godly leader.
I’m right there
God bless you. As a pastor’s wife, I understand. I pray you receive the guidance, help & support you need.
Wow….to be honest I’m not surprised. People have NO IDEA the load a pastor carries. They think he finds some scripture, studies it, gets his sermon together and then sits around and waits to see if anyone needs a visit. Then the pastor works on Sunday and he’s”off” until next week….
I’ma pk and I’ve seen and heard a lot of the crazy that the above sounds like.
A true Pastor isn’t looking for fame,certainly not money and not a pat in the back….he’s looking to see who needs Jesus and how can he help them meet Him. They cry the church, they cry over the hurtful things aimed not only at him but at his family…. they have feelings you know.
I pray for Pastors ,not just mine, everyday. Not all members are on the “I want” committee. I encourage each of you to make sure that if YOU quit or leave that it is what GOD told you to do and nothing or anyone else has the right to make that decision to make you do it. GOD called you for His work…..I know it’s not easy and it’s thankless sometimes but God gives you the strength to carry on.
Love in Christ
We love our Pastors. We need our Minsters to stand up and preach the whole truth and not preach in fear of 501c-3. Preach the whole truth and know that GOD is leading you. Paul never quit. Trust ABBA FATHER with all your heart. Lean not to your own understanding and take GOD’S word for it. He’s got this. Look to GOD and not your congregation. Give JESUS your burdens and take his yoke.
Great word Brother
Greg, I know it is not your intention but your comments come across as just more criticism and more judgment. It also comes across as a call to be more political and we are so weary of that.
Substitute the word pastor for doctor, teacher, lawyer, nurse… many who care for others as part of their ministry are feeling this way. It’s healthy to acknowledge it. Having done that we then need to ask ourselves “what are we called to, from where does my joy come, and who am I serving?”
Thank you for this opportunity to share this encouragement words with other pastors, remember many church members will return back to their life, but not to church, but please “don’t quit” also many may fear everything that is going on but! “Don’t quit” please remember “your not alone” Prov 3:5 and don’t make big decisions. Trust him don’t quit now, thank you
Hang in there! For all the criticisms you hear, there are at least as many of us defending you and praying for you. Yes, there will be changes. But just as we don’t see God’s whole plan for our lives, you are not seeing the whole picture of your congregation. Stay safe. Keep the faith. God bless!
Karen and I have been there. It was one of the reasons we wrote “I Must Not Be A Real Pastor” about our experiences. On staff now, and still feel much of the same pressure. And if we could make a living by writing, we probably would walk away.
I believe Pastors are under a lot of stress. I pray for Pastors locally, nationally and internationally. A Pastors heart is one of a kind, they are God’s undersheperd herding God’s sheep.
Julie, speaking as a fellow pastor, you are doing a staggering amount of excellent and time – intensive ministry, with no support, it appears. I don’t see how you could do more. I’m sorry for the negativity you’ve faced. I hope you don’t burn out.
Wow, just wow! I have been a pastor for almost 30 years…and it is hard. Jokingly members will say, “But you only work 2 hours a week on Sunday” (2 services)…um no. I work an average of 60 hours a week. Since the pandemic I still work about 60 hours a week but the hours are harder because of the learning curve and I cannot just pop in and visit people or see them at church, or at a church activity, I have to call them and e-mail, send devotions, try to stay in touch. And then the complaints come and come and come. I have to force myself to call people because I know it will be another complaint….who wants to talk to that all the time???? I am sorry we are not back on worship, I am sorry we decided to come back to worship, I am sorry you didn’t get the e-mail, I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry. I read the comments and all I can say is, I’m sorry your pastor doesn’t call, or visit, I am sorry you are not happy with how your church responded to this crisis, I am sorry that we think we should just trust God and everything will be ok with finances, church attendance and the world…. I am sorry, I am sorry, I am sorry.
I’m truly sorry to read this list of how so many pastors are getting discouraged. Our church is small compaired to so many curches and we have been praising the Lord for this. We are able to hold two services with masks and spacing. We also have our pastor doing Live Services on line. Our flock has stayed close and have continued to support our church. Our Pastor and his wife have been over the top is communicating. Our ladies have a coffee fellowship and the men meet for breakfast once a week. Instead of allowing this virus to pull us down our leadership has helped us keep our perspective and to hold faith to our faith.