What we don't always share about ministry...

Dear Readers...

Today I thought I would share with you some insight into what it's like to be in Pastoral Ministry. Rather than sharing anecdotes and stories with you, I would share some facts and figures based on several different surveys.

I Bid You Peace...
Pastor Ken+

1991 Survey of Pastors (Fuller Institute of Church Growth)
90% work more than 46 hours a week80% believed pastoral ministry affected their families negatively33% believed ministry was a hazard to their family75% reported a significant stress related crisis at least once in their ministry50% felt themselves unable to meet the needs of the job90% felt inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands70% say they have a lower self esteem now compared to when they started in ministry40% reported serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month70% do not have someone they consider a close friend

Malony & Hunt, The Psychology of Clergy
William Moore in a study of 341 clergy from 36 denominations and 43 states showed that unrealistic expectations are a major factor in pastor burnout60% of clergy wives hold full time jobs or are involved in careersSome studies suggest 70% of clergy report experiencing major distress33% have considered leaving the ministry
.
Current Thoughts & Trends, December 1992
28% of pastors said ministry was a hazard to family life16% said it didn't affect family either way57% thought it was beneficial94% felt under pressure to have the "ideal" familyEstimated 20% of 300,000 clergy suffer from long term stressOne year the Southern Baptist Convention paid out $64 million in stress related claims, second in dollar amounts only to maternity benefits.
Leadership Magazine, Fall 1992
70% indicated their compensation contributed to marriage conflicts22% feel forced to supplement their church income
Current Thoughts & Trends, May 1992
Last 3 years, typical pastor's salary increased less than 1/2 the inflation rateAverage increase for 1988-1991 was 7.4%Over 40% of single staff pastors felt they were underpaid.33% of senior pastors felt they were underpaid.
Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary Survey, 1997
Pastors:
· 1,500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout or contention in their churches.
· 80% of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
· 50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
· 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.

Pastors' Wives:
· 80% of pastors' spouses feel their spouse is overworked.
· 80% of pastor' wives feel left out and unappreciated by the church members.
· 80% of pastors' spouses wish their spouse would choose another profession.
· 80% of pastors' wives feel pressured to do things and be something in the church that they are really not.

Pastors' Relationship With the Lord:
· 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor.
· 95 % of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses.
· 80% of pastors surveyed spend less than fifteen minutes a day in prayer.
· 70% said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

What are current clergy care needs?
- A place to get away, quiet time, place of silence, alone time
- A place to voice our concerns as leaders
- Counseling, spiritual direction, spiritual challenges
- Trust and private arena for discussion
- Peer support, time with others, fellowship and fun, sense of connectedness with other clergy & diocese
- Time for renewal & refreshment
- To be ministered to and not to minister
- We need to get over our schizophrenia over “Poor dear works too hard and WHAT, you’re taking a day off?”
- Clearer definition of the “role”, support, empower, matching clergy with appropriate parish
- Where are we going? Direction clearly defined?
- Skill gap closure- time management, help in knowing how to deal with difficult behaviour
- Ongoing supervisor holding clergy accountable, ongoing analysis & performance evaluation
- Growth personally & vocationally
- What does it mean to be a clergy in our day & age?
- Well balance lifestyle
o Affirming relationships, study time, play time, prayer time
- Alleviate financial pressure & burden of parish financial problems.