An excerpt from recent Barna Research on the decline of job satisfaction among Pastors asked respondents what they wish they had been better prepared for in seminary. As I reflected on the data, I realized two things. First, some of the items mentioned were not concerns when I went to seminary, such as technology or…
Category: Pastoral Ministry
Lifeway Research on Women in Church Leadership
According to a study released by Lifeway Research this week, not much has shifted in terms of acceptance of women in church leadership. The report states that Mainline denominations continue to set the pace, with some 76% affirming of women in the role of Senior Pastor, while 44% of evangelical denominations affirm the same.
The Leading Cause for Pastors Who Want to Quit
Barna research has released a new study on the leading causes of pastoral burn out and the increased numbers of pastors who want to quit vocational ministry. Pastoral tenure, according to the report, ebbs and flows primarily around self care and their personal spiritual formation practices. I’m not sure this is anything ground breaking, but…
Pastors and Plagiarism
The digital age has made information accessible to the masses. This advent has also revealed a subsequent issue in America’s pulpits: plagiarism. The Oxford Dictionary defines plagiarism as “the practice of taking someone else’s work or ideas and passing them off as one’s own.” The practice of plagiarism in the pulpit is definitely not new,…
Churches Are Still Recovering
A new study from Lifeway Research reports that while Churches continue to open their doors for in person worship, one in four attendees has yet to return. You can view the report HERE.
Barna Report on Pastoral Credibility
Barna Research has published a new report on the credibility of pastors in America. Much of the erosion, as you will read, is due to the mishandling of power and authority that comes with the office and will only be remedied by reimagining what pastoral authority in congregational life looks like.
Racial Diversity in U.S. Congregations
Here’s an interesting article on the lack of racial diversity in American congregations. While racial diversity is still desired by the vast majority of pastors, it is by and large aspirational given they do not know how to achieve this goal. According to the study, a congregation is racially diverse when the predominant ethnicity is…
U.S. Pastor’s Identify Their Greatest Needs
Lifeway Research has compiled a survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors in order to list and rank what they cite is their greatest needs. I don’t believe there are any eye-popping surprises here, but I encourage you to take three minutes and take a look. If you’re a layperson, you might discover ways to be helpful…
Why I Use a “Paper” Planner
I was introduced to Daytimer in the mid-eighties and for two and one half decades it served as my primary planning tool. My Daytimer was always as close to me as my cell phone is today, serving as my trusted companion to help me review prior days and upcoming tasks. Even with the incorporation of…
Why Church Leaders Can’t “Wait and See”
Tony Morgan of the Unstuck Group published an article at the end of 2021 titled, Church Leaders, We Can’t Afford to Wait and See. It is a must read for every Pastor, staff member, deacon or board member. If you aren’t currently holding a position in church leadership, I recommend that you share this with…
