1,500 pastors resign monthly

I am in an ass'n of 21 churches, 3 years ago we had 5 churches without pastors. But in the past 18 months, no pastor has resigned or even been fired in the ass'n. So I do think that the economy has something to do with it, which is sad because it may mean lots of guys go to churches and leave churches because of finances not the call of God.

Our association is different in that 7 of the churches have pastors who have been in their present churches for at least 10 years.

 

This is all very interesting to me. Having just completed seminary in May, I went to school with hundreds of others training to become pastors. Upon graduating, many of them could not find churches. There were plenty of churches to apply to, but based on their experience (or lack thereof), they could not find a church that would call them as pastors.

I, on the other hand, didn't have much of a problem finding a church. Everything, by the will of God, just sort of fell into place. I wonder if it had something to do with having ministry experience at other churches (not as a pastor, but nevertheless on staff). I wonder if it had to do with my expectations (being willing to be bi-vocational if need be, or work for a smaller salary). These things may certainly have played a part, but just as ministers need to think about job and financial security, these things all play into the call of God.

I guess what I'm saying is, God uses all these things so that his will is done.

 

There is an alternative to pastoring. Why not help another pastor in his work through your training by being a vital part in leading and teaching. Every pastor needs trained people to help him.

 

Some of the finest pastors I have known were 'second men'.

 

I accepted the call in 1988. However, I did not get called to a church until 1996. In that time, I completed my education and served in just about every position possible in the churches that I attended. I lead music, preached, taught SS-Discipleship Training-temporary classes, served on and led committees, worked with youth and RA's, served as a deacon, became a volunteer associate pastor, taught VBS..... When I came into the pastorate I had the seminary education, but more so, I had a practical education that is still paying dividends today.

 

I resigned my last pastorate in October. There was a problem with certain Biblical principles the board and I disagreed on. They held the constitution and bylaws above the Bible so I had no choice but to leave. Some members left with me (mainly folks who had began since I did there) While pastors may be resigning, we dont all leave the ministry. Some times we move on when we feel led by God to move on. When powerful members want to run the church in opposition to His word, a biblical based pastor needs to correct them and if they refuse correction, he needs to move on.

 

Amen to that, John. A local church here may be disbanding due to similar circumstances. The church would not follow what the bible laid out and instead chose to follow their own way, so the pastor, music minister, and youth minister all resigned. Can't say as I blame them at all.

While I agree that seminary should be a part of all minister's requirements, some (like myself) do not have that option (at least not at this present time). A spit-slinging country bumpkin is one thing, but one who utilizes what education and study options he does have available are another.

The sad part is that many churches won't look at a man unless he has "x" number of years of pastoring under his belt. We took a chance on a man fresh out of seminary and have not regretted a second of it... but most churches would not even consider this.

 

In recent years I have spoken to many pastors in the 55-65 age group who have been pastors for decades and are ready to throw in the towel. They are tired of pastoring. They want to remain in ministry, serving in some capacity.

 

Thank you brother for your testimony. This very closely mirrors my own experience. I always tell young men wanting to enter the ministry to get involved...education or no education- if you are called to Christ's ministry, you will desire to be involved. I wish more young people would get this type of experience as it really help us to appreciate/understand the concerns and difficulties faced by the volunteers and staff of our churches in their various tasks. I have often stated that serving as a Deacon has made me a better minister and helped me to appreciate the work God has called them to. Thank you again brother.

Your bro.
Crucified

 

Brother,
Thank you for your words of insight. While I agree that a Seminary education is valuable for any minister, I personally could not call it a "requirement". The only requirements for service as a Pastor are found in the pages of Scripture; while we may consider things that we think are advantageous, I dare say we go to far if we call them requirements.
As for the thing about spit-slinging bumpkins, I think that they are rarer than many like to portray. Even in the rural areas that I have been in/ministered in, the majority of the Pastors were (while often not Seminary educated) sincere, dedicated, God-fearing men who equipped the congregations God put them over.
Again, a Seminary education is of great value, but we need to remember that God has also used men in a very powerful way even though they never attended formal training.

 

Comments

There is no particular order to these comments.

1. I counsel and advise a lot of young men going into the ministry, and I make a strong pitch to them to be licensed or certified in some field (teaching, millwright, electrician) so they can weather the ups and downs of ministry--Paul was a tentmaker, you know, and sometimes supported his mission that way.

2. The reason that so many formerly retired preachers are returning to the pulpit is that the old churches want pastors who fit their mold. These are the 50-50 churches, (50 members all older than 50) or the 20-70 churches (twenty members, all older than 70), or some variation of these. They don't want young pastors because they commit horrible crimes such as preaching from the NAS or NLT, and are not willing to preach a good sensible 20-minute sermon. Those young pastors also encourage minorities to come to the church, so they call the old guys. (In our association, there are men in their '80s pastoring, and a lot of the pastors are 65 or above). Note: there are some older fellows who have it together and are successful at keeping elderly churches functioning.

3. (related to a thread in the pastoral section), there are a lot of guys graduating from the seminaries who are (1) too conservative for the CBF guys--amen!, (2) too calvinistic for many churches...tough subject, etc.

 

If those churches keep up that kind of self-centeredness they won't need to worry about who they call because all of the people will be gone.

 

True, and that is the point. In our association, two or three churches have shut their doors for good in just the past 12 months, while a mission from the church where I am a memberhas constituted in less than 6 months, and two other plants are doing well.

I am personally convinced that most efforts expended to reform old churches are wasted.

 

Seems like what I have experienced over the past 10 years or so is that there are two directions the majority of Baptist churches are heading. Like some have said in here, many churches are comprised of elderly folks that are ardent about KJV only preaching and teaching or singing only from a historic hymnal with no canned music. Then the other extreme is the seeker sensitive approach that weakens the gospel until it's not even the gospel anymore. I've known many good preachers that are very burdened by the lack of love for God from the church. Many in churches today look at the church as their own little social club and they forget why the church is there for. I've seen wonderful sermons preached that should invigorate the crustiest old baptist, but instead the old ones are more concerned about making the buffet line at noon and the seekers are upset because the preacher called them a sinner. No wonder we see many vacancies in the pulpit, maybe God is getting ready to do something BIG?:godisgood:

 

Why so many resignations?