Ministry News
Tough Job Market for Protestant Pastors
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 08 June 2010 11:37
- Written by Marcus Yoars
Shrinking attendance and the recession are making for one of the worst job markets for Protestant ministers in decades, according to a report in USA Today.
There are more than 600,000 ministers in the United States, but only 338,000 churches, according to the Yearbook of American and Canadian Churches. This is causing a glut of qualified but unemployed pastors, especially as church attendance in many mainline denominations continues to slide.
Smaller congregations are being hit particularly hard because they typically have more trouble finding funds during bad economic times. Many are now unable to afford a full-time minister. With the average church attendance in the United States at 75 people, these small churches are now being forced to either pay their minister less or use part-time clergy.
"There's lots of really good pastors out there who are having a terrible time," Phil Leftwich, executive presbyter of the Presbytery of Middle Tennessee, told The Tennessean. Among Presbyterians, there are four pastors looking for work for every one job opening.
Seminary enrollment is declining as well, possibly in response to the tough market. According to the Association of Theological Schools, national enrollment is down 6.4 percent since 2005.
However, a large pool of unemployed ministers is good for some groups. Churches that are financially stable, especially larger churches with big staffs, can take their time in selecting the pastor they think is right for the job. Also, retired pastors who are willing to serve at small churches to supplement their income are finding more opportunities. [usatoday.com, 6/7/10]
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Comments
Before (HE) can rebuild anything, it must be broken down. Sorry for the coladeral damage, but let God continue to show you who you are to minister (to) in our out of the church. I chose to follow His leading and prepare (---) for whats to come. And I have not stopped ministering, I just do not approach it as before.
I thank you for sharing, I only have this to say, I did not leave the scriptures in (ICor 9:7-11) out as if I was attempting to manipulate the content of the scriptures. I figured if anyone who wanted to know the full content, they would read and come to their own conclusion. My personal understanding as I read those scriptures is that Paul was making the point that I shared, even though we desrve to be paided, we should not expect it least we hinder the furthurance of the gospel.
methods. Who's bringing this change Holy Spirit or man?
Get in your prayer closets till you are sure you are hearing of God, repent of any error, and He will begin showing and speaking to you, and then we can see a true move of God, not just this Sunday social gathering we call the church today!
May He guide and lead us through the times were are about to go through and may He take the blinders of religion, and indoctrination, and traditions, and theology’s of men off us. And may we learn to seek and hear more clearly from Him as to what we are called of Him to do.
Remember, God chooses the foolish things to confound those who think they are wise. So your titles mean little to God. The disciples were not educated men in the sense as we believe we have to be with all our degrees in bible, but they did understand they were to followed Jesus, and they walked in His power and anointing, where did we go wrong?
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