Prior research on pastors indicates that approximately 10% of parish pastors have left the ministry within 10 years of ordination, and an additional 20-30% have left parish ministry for some other position within the denomination.   Surprisingly, only one empirical study, among United Methodist clergy, has measured retention rates precisely. [PASTORS IN TRANSITION, pp. 28, 29]

In The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, 246 parish pastors left parish ministry between 1993 and 2000, and 300 commissioned teachers left elementary/high school teaching between 1998 and 2002.   Among Directors of Christian Education, 80 left parish ministry between 1998 and 2003.

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod recently took part in a major research project with four other denominations (Assemblies of God, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church U.S. A., and The United Methodist Church) to examine the issue of why parish pastors left local church ministry.  The report of the findings of this study, published last year, is found in PASTORS IN TRANSISTION, by Dean R. Hoge and Jacqueline E. Wenger, Eerdmans Publishing Company.  Similar studies were conducted with LCMS commissioned teachers and DCEs who had left parish ministry (Teachers Who Left LCMS Schools, John P. O'Hara, Research Services, LCMS, 2004; Directors of Christian Education Who Left Parish Ministry, John P. O'Hara, Research Services, LCMS, 2006).   Some of the key implications from the research are listed here.

WHY DO CHURCH WORK PROFESSIONALS LEAVE PARISH MINISTRY?

People leave positions in parish ministry for a variety of reasons.  Various factors push or pull individuals to other ministry or vocational directions.  There is considerable evidence that few leave for reasons of legal or ethical wrong-doing or theological reasons.  Some leave for other ministry opportunities (cited by over a third of LCMS clergy), others leave for family/personal reasons (primarily female teachers), but conflict and stress appear to account for roughly a third of all moves out of parish ministry, and over half of non-voluntary moves.

About four in ten LCMS pastors who left parish ministry, and about a third of teachers and DCEs who left local ministry, indicated the last congregation they served experienced “major conflict,” usually around “pastoral leadership style” or “finances.”

A majority of all three samples of parish leavers agreed they “frequently/often” experienced stress because of challenges they faced in their last congregation/school.  Many felt “lonely/isolated” in their work, or felt their work in the congregation “often did not permit them time with their family.”

WHAT CAN THE CHURCH (SYNOD, DISTRICT, CONGREGATION LEADERS) DO?

Based on the recent studies, and evidence from prior research, the following seem to present themselves as major priorities:

1.         Newly placed Professional Church Workers would benefit from a strengthening of preparation for the practical aspects of parish ministry while at our universities and seminaries.

2.         Retention of newly placed Professional Church Workers would improve with a closer “match” between parish and worker.  [The process would benefit from a more candid dialogue about expectations between candidates and congregations.]

3.         Retention of Professional Church Workers would improve with meaningful and ongoing support from National and District offices, especially during transitions.

4.         Retention of Professional Church Workers would improve with support in times of conflict or crisis, even if that comes from outside the Synodical system.

5.         Retention of Professional Church Workers would improve as congregations become more realistic about expectations of the workers.

WHAT CAN I DO TO HELP?

For more information, or to receive a summary of the LCMS research, please contact the Commission on

Ministerial Growth and Support at 314.996.1378, or go to http://cmgs.lcms.org.