Change of Scenery

There is a tremendously special group that serves among us in the body of Christ - those who shepherd various congregations, who preach, teach, and live the Word of God, standing ready to minister to the needs of the people under his care.  Full-time, part-time, bivocational, whatever the case - it really is a 24/7 call, and we should seek to pray for and encourage those who serve in the position of pastor.  1st Timothy 5 (ESV) states:
17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain, ” and, “The laborer deserves his wages. ”
19 Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

We should always take care to affirm these individuals who lead us in our Christian walk. The image of the beleagured pastor is one that has been furthered throughout the years, but there is new evidence that the narrative could be changing.  The Lifeway Research website reports:

According to a Lifeway Research study of former senior pastors in four Protestant denominations who stepped down before retirement age, 4 in 5 (81%) felt sure during most of their ministry at their last church that they could stay there as long as they wanted.

Only around 1% of U.S. Protestant pastors leave the ministry each year, according to the most recent Lifeway Research study. Among pastors from four denominations who step down, 2 in 5 (40%) say it was related to a change in their calling.

Church conflict is responsible for 18% of the departures, with burnout listed at 16%. Only 3% of pastors step down for a "moral or ethical issue." Scott McConnell, who is executive director of Lifeway Research, is quoted as saying: “This research study provides uncommon access to a reliable sample from four denominations of those who left the pastorate early, and the most frequent reason for stepping away from the senior pastor role is God’s leadership to do so.”

So, the percentage of Protestant pastors who leave the ministry is compartively small, and there is a variety of ages at which they leave the ministry.  Just over 4-in-10 of those who leave their first church never go to a second.  And, three-quarters of former pastors report that their final stop on the pastoral journey was 10 years or less.

Of course, the challenges a pastor faces can certainly be weighty.  The Lifeway Research article notes:

As former pastors reflected on their time in the ministry, they highlighted many areas of concern. Many felt pressure from the congregation. Most (53%) felt the church had unrealistic expectations of them. And around a third (35%) didn’t feel free to say no when expectations of them were unrealistic.

Four in 5 (80%) felt they had to be “on-call” 24 hours a day. Most (53%) often felt the demands of ministry were greater than they could handle, while almost 2 in 3 (64%) frequently felt overwhelmed with the role of pastor.

While it takes a special type of person to fill the shoes of a pastor - a person with a clear calling from God - we can take the necessary steps to show affirmation and appreciation for those who serve in that capacity.  Scott McConnell of Lifeway Research says: "Former pastors’ requests for how churches should treat their pastors are not lengthy. Most listed only one piece of advice, with many focusing on the personal elements of love, care, prayer, respect and encouragement,” adding, “On the practical side, former pastors encourage churches to have realistic expectations of their pastors, with more mentioning appropriate time off than financial provision.”

The month of October is Pastor and Staff Appreciation Month - a time to honor those who serve diligently in fulfilling their calling to lead by serving.  The Focus on the Family website has special resources to help churches in planning ways to honor pastors, just go to: focusonthefamily.com/pastorappreciation.

All in all, we find that the body of Christ is designed to operate in a certain way.  Each of us should seek to fulfill the God-given roles that we have, so that the body functions for the glory of God.  A strong pastor, called and equipped by God, who is encouraged by his congregation, can make a significant impact in leading his congregants in the ways of the Lord.