6 Reasons Why So Many Pastors Are Quitting

Who would have thought the subject of pastoral resignations would be significant news?

Who would have thought the subject of pastoral resignations would be significant news? But it has been, from significant studies to viral posts, people are thinking about and concerned about this phenomenon. Below are some common reasons why pastors are resigning in record numbers based on my experiences and conversations with other pastors.

1. Pastors Are Facing Less Hospitable Environments

The ground has become harder in terms of either outright animosity or pervasive apathy. Inside the church, especially during and post-COVID, there has been increased animosity between pastors and churches who chose different paths during COVID. Over this period, it seems like the demands of the job have both shifted and increased and this has taken a toll. Outside the church, attending or belonging to a church is no longer seen as relevant by most people. In addition, the natural respect that once existed for pastors has greatly diminished.

2. Pastors Are Not Taking (or Receiving) Adequate Time to Rest

Pastors are generally not receiving sabbaticals and are also not resting well in between the sabbaticals they’re not taking. This is all catching up with many pastors. They made it through the COVID period hanging on for dear life, but don’t have enough in the tank to keep going.

Some pastors have been on the verge of tiredness if not exhaustion for years, and then suddenly the environment that they're in changes and becomes far more difficult, and more taxing, and it's at the intersection of those two phenomena that we find pastoral frustration and burnout that is leading to so many resignations.

3. Pastors Must Often Navigate Dysfunctional Leadership Structures

A basic understanding of the need and biblical qualifications for elders and deacons is lacking in many churches. And where pastors come to a clearer understanding of the need for these offices, changing or reforming the existing leadership structures seems fraught with peril.

Many pastors are functionally leading alone. At best, in many cases, a pastor has a sounding board of other leaders but not co-shepherds who pastor the church with him. That’s a lot of spiritual weight to carry, and for many, it becomes too much.

4. Pastors Are Not Practicing Spiritual Disciplines

Pastors should be the exemplars in this area of Christian living but sometimes we seem to think we get an exemption because we already do some of the disciplines as “professionals”. I believe there is actually quite a lot of soul-withering among pastors because of this. Pastors can be very busy with leadership and organizational responsibilities, but if we are not daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly engaging in those disciplines that we tell others are important to their spiritual health, then we are falling behind in our own sanctification and character development.

5. Pastors Are Receiving Business Leadership Training

There's no lack of leadership training and resources for church leaders. Unfortunately, many of these resources are based primarily on business leadership principles. These are of some value, no doubt, but we train pastors primarily to lead an organization called “the church’ when we should be training them to tend to this organism called “the body of Christ.” The church is both, of course, but a balance needs to be restored where we see it more as a body and less as just an organization. All of the pressure to function more like the CEO of a business and less like the shepherd of a flock is taking a toll.

6. Younger Pastors are Being Rushed into Responsibility

I’ll add a sixth one here that came on my radar not from personal experience but from several other sources who are leaders in large denominations or church-related organizations. The average age of pastors is increasing which means there is a flood of retirements happening, and more to come, and there are not enough younger pastors ready to take those places. In some cases, younger pastors are already being put into places of responsibility that are heavier than they are ready to carry. That’s a grave danger if they don’t receive consistent mentoring from older pastors.

Additions?

What would you add to the above list?

I had the privilege of contributing to a recent conversation on this topic for a TGC Canada podcast. Check out the video below.

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Michael Krahn is a Pastor, the husband of Anne Marie, and the father of Madeleine, Olivia, and Sophia. You can connect with Michael on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.