How serious is the clergy shortage in conservative churches?

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We have long heard of clergy shortages among Roman Catholics and liberal mainline churches. Now, it seems, conservative churches are sharing the problem. It is referred to as “The Great American Clergy Shortage.”

I am in the process of retiring after having been in pastoral ministry for 43 years. I will be retiring by November 1; for months now, I have been trying to work with a pastoral selection committee to find a new pastor. The pickings are very, very slim.

When I thought about leaving the ministry 11 years ago, the average church received 200 resumes if they posted on a number of seminary/Bible college sites. It was almost impossible to even get an opportunity to candidate; The situation that was driving me out was addressed, so I remained here another 11 years.

Having posted at Moody, Grace, Dallas, Calvary, and now Chafer, Emmaus, and several others, we have heard almost nothing. We did hear from two pastors in Africa trying to get a ride to the USA and one candidate who decided he wasn’t ready for ministry yet. We tried a head hunter who sent us a few names, but, while evangelical, they were not compatible with our doctrinal positions (and we are only moderately picky; we would accept candidates, for example, with a variety of views on the timing of the rapture).

So how serious is the pastor shortage? What is your view?

If you help place pastors or are in an organization that gives you special insight and knowledge, please make sure to comment. All comments, of course, are appreciated.

You can read about one assessment of it HERE, if you like.

Poll Results

How serious is the clergy shortage in conservative churches?

It is serious and will be a problem for the long term. Votes: 11
It is serious but the problem is short term. Votes: 0
There is a shortage, but it is not that bad and will probably not get worse. Votes: 2
I never heard of a pastor shortage. News to me. So I have no opinion yet. Votes: 3
There is no real shortage among conservative churches. Votes: 1
Other. Votes: 3

(Migrated poll)

N/A
0% (0 votes)
Total votes: 0

Discussion

T Howard, I agree with that. I think churches might be slow to have needed conversations. Piety takes over and if a man claims he is “called” we want to honor that but sometimes unwisely.

I would still leave room for a man who is affirmed but doesn’t fit the present needs of the church for some reason. That is not necessarily a problem.

[Larry]

T Howard, I agree with that. I think churches might be slow to have needed conversations. Piety takes over and if a man claims he is “called” we want to honor that but sometimes unwisely.

We honor the call to pastoral ministry by testing and either affirming or not affirming the man’s calling. If the Lord is truly leading a man into pastoral ministry, his desire, gifts, and character will be evident to his church. Therefore, the best thing a church can do for a man is to tell him he shouldn’t pursue pastoral ministry because he is not gifted or qualified for pastoral ministry.

[Larry] I would still leave room for a man who is affirmed but doesn’t fit the present needs of the church for some reason. That is not necessarily a problem.

I agree with that. However, that should be a conversation that the church leaders have with this man at the front end.

[T Howard]
Larry wrote:

T Howard, I agree with that. I think churches might be slow to have needed conversations. Piety takes over and if a man claims he is “called” we want to honor that but sometimes unwisely.

We honor the call to pastoral ministry by testing and either affirming or not affirming the man’s calling. If the Lord is truly leading a man into pastoral ministry, his desire, gifts, and character will be evident to his church. Therefore, the best thing a church can do for a man is to tell him he shouldn’t pursue pastoral ministry because he is not gifted or qualified for pastoral ministry.

Larry wrote:I would still leave room for a man who is affirmed but doesn’t fit the present needs of the church for some reason. That is not necessarily a problem.

I agree with that. However, that should be a conversation that the church leaders have with this man at the front end.

I wish every church was interested in helping people into ministry. I have run into many that have no interest in training men, or even encouraging them to go to seminary. I personally know many churches that have never sent a man to seminary, or encouraged him into ministry. It was all about building up the present pastor.

We honor the call to pastoral ministry by testing and either affirming or not affirming the man’s calling. If the Lord is truly leading a man into pastoral ministry, his desire, gifts, and character will be evident to his church. Therefore, the best thing a church can do for a man is to tell him he shouldn’t pursue pastoral ministry because he is not gifted or qualified for pastoral ministry.

Or tell him to seek training and mentorship and see if he can develop these things.

But I agree with all this. My point is that churches generally have a pietistic mindset that if “God called me,” we have to agree and so we push men into ministry who shouldn’t be in ministry or into certain types of ministries who shouldn’t be in that type of ministry.

However, that should be a conversation that the church leaders have with this man at the front end.

I think I agree, but front end of what? I had that conversation with someone in the not too distant past who was internal to our church and who had expressed interest in a position we were looking for. I told him that I would encourage him to pursue ministry opportunities and experience but he was not what we were looking for for this position.

So I think we largely agree.

[Dave White]

Churches hire pastors like the NFL hires coaches

Here’s the thing. Most people here are likely thoughtful and the churches you attend or minister at are mature. Your church mentors men into ministry. You encourage others to grow.

I am telling you though, that with 1 notable exception, I have NEVER attended such a church. I attended a church for 13 years trying to find every opportunity to serve, to grow, to train, to get pastoral endorsement for ministry. It never came. I realized later after I left that NO ONE in 13 years had received such an endorsement… it wasn’t just me. By the way, this was a 500+ average attendance church.

I have attended Southern Baptist churches that think they train people, but unless you are exactly like them, forget it. I don’t mean theologically, I mean socially.

My point is to be careful assuming all churches are as good as yours in providing opportunities for men to develop in ministry.