America, We Have A Problem

While at youth camp this summer I heard a statistic quoted that 80% of seminary graduates leave the ministry within five years of graduating.  I went snooping around to see where such a statistic might come from.  Well, it turns out that LeadingFromYourStrengths.com has come across various troubling studies.  They posted them at their blog about a year ago.  Here’s what they found:

According to estimates by the Alban Institute in Washington, D.C., at least 17 percent of clergy suffer from stress or burnout.

 

“The Charlotte Observer” reported about 1,400 ministers a year call a toll-free hot line of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), which counsels ministers through its LeaderCare program.

 

LeaderCare estimates that nearly 100 SBC pastors leave their ministry every month.

 

Sunscape Ministries of Colorado, which serves clergy in crises, reported that in all denominations nationwide, 1,600 ministers per month are terminated or forced to resign their pulpit.

 

Statistics provided by The Fuller Institute, George Barna, and Pastoral Care Inc.:

 

50% of Pastors have considered leaving the ministry in the last months.

 

80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.

 

85% of pastors said their greatest problem is they are sick and tired of dealing with problem people, such as disgruntled elders, deacons, worship leaders, worship teams, board members, and associate pastors.

 

90% said the hardest thing about ministry is dealing with uncooperative people.

 

1 out of every 10 ministers will actually retire as a minister in some form.

Rather than editorialize on those numbers I’ll just leave them out there for you to make of them what you wish.