The Toll of the Pastorate

Mike Hosey, Elder

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While researching the pastorate, I came across a variety of shocking statistics.

Consider these compiled by blogger Alan Fadling on his website:

• Churchgoers expect pastors to juggle an average of 16 major tasks. (I would add that they ask him to do this with meager compensation while also asking him to model the perfect family, visit everyone, attend all church functions, preach an inspiring sermon every Sunday, and grow the church numerically.)

• Two thirds (almost 70%) of pastors reported significant conflict in their churches in the 2 years previous.  20% of those conflicts were significant enough for some members to leave.
• The typical pastor's greatest impact is in years 5-14. Unfortunately, the typical pastor only lasts 5 years.

• 80% of pastors feel that ministry effects their families negatively.

Or how about these compiled by the South Carolina Baptist Convention on their website?

• 80% of graduates entering the ministry will leave it within 5 years.

• 50% of pastors say they would leave the ministry, but can't because they have no other way of making a living.

• 70% of pastors constantly fight depression.

• 70% of pastors say they have a lower self-image now than when they started in ministry.

• 61% of pastors say they have few "close" friends. (I've seen one statistic that 70% don't have anyone they consider a "close" friend.)

Bivocational senior pastors deal with many of those stresses while also dealing with the time and resource constraints of their secular jobs.

Here at Fellowship Church, we don't believe God ever intended for one person to shoulder such a huge burden in His church. We believe He wanted all His children to share the load using their specific gifts. While we don't believe that senior pastor models are wrong, or that they can't be successful, neither do we believe they are the most biblical. We believe a strong plurality of pastors is the New Testament example, and we also believe that a group of capable men called to the pastorate working together will combat the statistics mentioned above, and we are thankful he has given us the opportunity to try it out.