Boy that is great stuff. I know this is a real problem. However one of the reasons may be the seriousness of ones call. I am not questioning anyone’s call but Spurgeon said it best in “Lectures To My Students” He said if you can do anything else beside preach go do it.

Now having said that I know that it is rough out there but I believe when God calls he provides and sustains. God never gives us more than we can handle. Sounds “Churchy” but with all the problems in churches with the people and stuff, when ONE person comes to Jesus it is all worth it.

Or as one person said “Being a pastor would be great if it was not for the people.”

Later
Henry

In addition to my previous comment: sorry spurgeon, but I’m not hip to your thoughts on pastoring.  It is quite possible that as pastors we can do nothing else, but in is also quite likely that young pastors are experiencing the maturation of evangelicalism and it’s overshadowing of apostolic christianity; therefore, what you have are young pastors who get it even more than the old school guys that have invested themselves in evangelicalism...and us young snots aren’t going to invest in an institution that we recognize...along with everyone else, is bunk!

One of the biggest disappointments in working full-time in a church staff position is loneliness. The staffer has no one to talk to, confide in, or in many cases, simply bounce ideas off. If you confide in a member, you might as well post your problems online. If you confide in another staffer or board member, you’re labeled either a “trouble-maker” or a liability and your job is in jeopardy. Same goes for your family. Too few churches actually build “community” among their members. If it doesn’t start with the staff, how can they expect to facilitate that sense of community among the congregants and neighbors?

I agree with kev.  We get into this to make a difference.  We really do want to feed the sick, poor, widows and etc.  And yet the church seems stricken by buildings, programs and stuff that doesn’t really meet the needs of society today.  I don’t mind not making money.  It’d be nice to do something that does.  But it’s not a motivating force for me.  I want to make a difference and unfortunately most churches don’t.
scotty

Yeah a lot of them leave.  Few of the people I knew in Bible College are in full time ministry.  Also, not being married (at least in our denomination) doesn’t help.  I think one of the biggest is finances.  Churches want educated people but never pay them what they are worth or even enough to pay for their education.  It’s all dissapointing…

I agree with Gary.  It is the petty stuff that kills you.  I have been in fulltime ministry for over 10 years and am tired of fighting committees on things that do not really matter.  Every one wants their say in the mundane business that can be handled in a few minutes by the staff, but the important stuff is ignored. 

I have heard for over three years in this church how much we need to visit and disciple.  Restarted both the last couple of months and only a handfull engage.

I want to make a difference but it seems most just want statis quo.

Expectations.  Unrealistic and unfulfilled.  I have been a pastor for 18 years now, I almost got out after 4, then 6, and on and on…

I think that this problem is too sided. It is easy to reflect on the problems of the church and the unspiritual people of the church; and set the blame there.  I agree with many of the reasons listed in the top ten list, but there is two-sides to most of them. 

I find many pastors today, bring their share of unspirituality to the table. We look for quick success, easy converts, and we want ministry to fit our lifestyles and time tables. When that meets up with congregations with the same attitudes, all falls apart when our expectations are not met. 

We are used to putting a dollar in a machine and getting a Coke.  When we invest our dollar and don’t get what we expect, we are easily discouraged, frustrated, and angered by it all. 

Added to this there is not readily available mature pastors and leaders to help younger pastors to navigate through this rough waters.  The expectation for success in the church today, success by world standards even, hurts us all.  Does the bible really point us to pastor like this?

“For I have learned the secret of contentment...” (Paul)

I agree that all 10 are real issues involved in the drop out rate…

Unfortunately these are all symptoms of the disease.  Call it evangelicalism or institutionalism or whatever...but even that is just a symptom.

That what kind of car I’m driving compared to the members is a reason for my dropping out says that I have the same disease they do.  So don’t try to make it into a young vs. old thing! Or modern vs. PM or traditional vs. emergent.  WE ARE ALL THE SAME.  OUR TRAPPINGS LOOK DIFFERENT IN EACH GENERATION.  BUT UNLESS YOU ALLOW GOD TO DEAL WITH THE SELFISH AMBITION AND PRIDE UNBELIEF IN YOUR HEART YOU WILL BURN OUT AND FALL OUT.  PERIOD.

I have found that what keeps me in ministry is NOT learning to compromise with a dinosaur system, but love for God and people.  I make beans.  I’m unknown.  This is the gift of obscurity.  in this world you are considered successful if you can do something noteworthy enough to make people pause and look at you and make much of you. 

Most young pastors are disillusioned not just by a decaying system, but by underlying heart motives that get exposed as they fight “the system”.

Only those who find themselves deeply rooted in Christ can hack it.  Those who are still dominated by modern or postmodern or other lower goals and values, will likely become disillusioned.

I think his top ten reasons are symptomatic of the great problem.  And if any of us could find the church that gets all ten right, our heart motives would still be wrong and God would have to use some other set of difficulties to humble us and show us our real need!

But most guys just don’t get it.

Happy in the midst of obscure ministry,

Pastor Dane

It has been my experience that one of the root reasons young pastors leave the ministry is the fact that seminaries and colleges have not prepared them for the ministry. This is not a blame issue. It is a complex, ever-changing dynamic of community and the church.

Sometimes young pastors arrive with core values that are not emergent...and then come up against the non-emergent core values of a church. Then both sets of core values have a habit of emerging with force! Sometimes it is root theological differences or preferences that they have brought to the core of the church and in their immaturity, have thought the church would change.

I find that when we bring only Jesus to the core of our day, our week, our ministry...we are far more effective change-agents than we ever thought we could be. And there is little or no division! Encourage young pastors to fear God for it will lead to right decisions and wisdom. Encourage them to know God for in knowing the Most High, there is understanding. And most of all, encourage them!

I think one could list several reasons for younger pastors leaving the ministry, but a couple that I came up with after reading the article are

1) Working for a micro-manager - the younger staff member is working for a control freak and someone who does not trust anyone.

2) Superiors do not delegate - delegation is a big word in leadership and management.  Some people think that delegation is to give tasks to others that are undesirable or menial in nature. 

3) Unreasonable expectations - the younger pastor has unreasonable expectations of the position

4) Broken promises - the younger pastor is promised several things and the senior pastor fails to deliver.  Don’t make promises you can’t keep.

My thoughts on a controversial subject, especially since I am studying for the ministry!

Loved it!  I think seminaries are doing a terrible job on preparing guys for ministry.  They need to know how to LEAD and how to TRANSITION people into their God given vision for the church.  It is a rude awaking when a pastor finds out he is the only one in the building who want to GROW.  This is a little tough, but could it be that many think they are called by God, but they later find out they were called by dad, mom, or their self?

I think at least three of these are the same (#3, #4, #9).  Money is an issue for many pastors.  The solution there is to teach stewardship.  The more money the church takes in, the more they typically will pay.  And most churches do see the need to increase salaries as the church brings in more money. 

To me, the reality hits hardest with #1.  The discontinuity between what they imagined ministry to be verses what it really is.

The problem may lie with the pastor, who felt like he could work one or two days a week and tell people what to do along the way.  Only to find out that the board or the elders or the committee was actually the ones giving orders.

It could just be the mindset of the church of America that operates under the premise of “we have started this and set it in motion now don’t change it”.  Any young pastor comes in with ideals only to have them crushed by the status quo of “we never have done it that way before” or “we always have done it this way.” They give up fighting and find somewhere else to work and worship!

Man, this stuff is good.  I believe this much is true - our job is hard and we must expect that.  Eternal rewards is what we must focus on while balancing that with a down-to-earth approach about salary and job expectations.  Communicate what you need and desire to continue in the ministry from those in position to make it happen.  The worst that can happen is that they say “get lost” - and that might be your best advise to take.  Churches that underpay will always get less qualified people - and they will remain small and visionless.  Young men and women in the ministry must pick themselves up - get on with life - and remember that at the end of the day - no one is going to make sure you retire well and your family is taken care of - that is your responsibility.  This may sound selfish - but i believe it’s realistic.  Find other work, find a new church, or take some time off.  But whatever you do - do your best with what you have, where you are.  You don’t have to have the title or position of “Pastor” to be a minister.  While I did secular work as a Pastor part time - i found it more stimulating and exciting working everyday with unsaved people.  In fact, the secular job market needs men and women who have such strong convictions.  Pastor those people - they are the ones who need it.  Jesus was called to the sick - and so we must go to them too.