monday morning insight

Why do pastors leave local churches? In Pastors in Transition (Eerdmans), authors Dean Hoge and Jacqueline Wenger draw on extensive research to give us some insights. Among the main reasons pastors are calling it quits:

• preference for another form of ministry
• the need to care for children or family
• conflict in the congregation
• conflict with denominational leaders
• burnout
• discouragement
• sexual misconduct
• divorce or marital problems

On a similar note, according to a recent article published in the Honolulu Advertiser:

• 48 percent of pastors think their work is hazardous to their families' well-being.
• 45.5 percent will experience a burnout or a depression that will make them leave their jobs.
• 70 percent say their self-esteem is lower now than when they started their position.
• Pastors have the second-highest divorce rate among professions.
• For every 20 people who go into the pastorate, only one retires from the ministry.

Hoge and Wenger's research showed that 75 percent of those pastors who had to leave their churches because of sexual misconduct indicated that they were lonely and isolated.

And across all denominations, the researchers kept hearing the same things from pastors who are leaving:

• "I felt drained by demands."
• "I felt lonely and isolated."
• "I did not feel supported by denominational officials."
• "I felt bored and constrained."

As a matter of fact, the authors found that "These pastors tended to be loners in the district or presbytery, for whatever reason not part of ministerial friendship groups or action groups."

Loneliness and isolationism are huge factors for pastors. I mean, who can a pastor confide in? Who can a pastor share his or her struggles with? Who can a pastor get help from when he or she needs help?

It's hard to talk to your peers sometimes, especially when you're going through a dark period of sin or depression. Confidentiality is a factor. So is pride.

It's hard to talk to your denominational leaders, especially when they control your future.

It's hard to talk to those in your congregation because you also have to be their pastor, and many would have a hard time keeping your confidence a priority.

It's hard to talk with your friends outside the church, mostly because few pastors have any. (Sad, but true...most relationships of pastors and church leaders fall into the three categories above).

So…where do you find support and help as a pastor when you need it? Do you have a support system in place to keep you from getting burned out or from falling into sexual sin? Has a lack of good relationships brought you close to calling it quits?

I'd love to hear from you this week. How are your relationships? What's your accountability structure look like? Who can you confide in? And…really…how close are you to leaving the ministry?

You can email me at trhoades@mondaymorninginsight.com). Have a great week!

Todd