For more information about this

study and to see the complete findings,

check out our 2015 report:

The State of Pastors

The full report is available at shop.barna.com

or through Barna Access membership.

barna.com
1 Chronicles 12:32 (NLT)
“… understood the signs of
the times and knew the best
course to take.”
Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)
“For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not
see it? I will make a pathway through
the wilderness. I will create rivers in the
dry wasteland.”
State of Pastors Study

• Self-leadership
• Church leadership
• Cultural leadership
Resilience is the Antidote to Living
and Leading in a Culture of Complexity
• Self: being a resilient person

• Church: developing a resilient team

• Cultural: forming a resilient, countercultural

community
 Self
Leadership
Self Leadership
• Most pastors start early on their path to ministry.

• A sense of calling deepens with time and

experience.

• As a cohort of leaders, pastors are getting older.

Self Leadership
• It’s not uncommon for spiritual leaders to face
doubt.

• Most pastors are faring well, but 1 in 3 is at risk of

burnout.

• Nearly half of pastors face some sort of relational

risk.
Self Leadership
• Families usually weather the challenges of
ministry.
• Pastors are not immune to mental health
struggles.
• Even when earning less, pastors thrive in other
ways.
• Worship helps pastors stay resilient.
 1992 2017
Median age 44 years 54 years
40 and under 33% 15%
65 and older 6% 17%
Living The Good Life
PASTORS
Overall, pastors 91%
78 % PRACTICING
are satisfied CHRISTIANS
62%
with their ALL U.S.
quality of life ADULTS

(% Who Say “Excellent” + “Good”)

 Physical, Emotional and
Spiritual Health
(% Who Say “Excellent” + “Good”)

Physical

Emotional

Spiritual
Pastors are More Likely Than the
General Population to Feel:
Pastors All Adults

INADEQUACY 22%
Frequently ABOUT THEIR 45% 12% 8%
Sometimes WORK OR 4 7
Seldom / never CALLING 2 0

EMOTIONAL / 21% 23%

MENTAL 54% 32%
EXHAUSTION 25% 4
5
** THIS QUESTION ASKED AMONG EMPLOYED U.S. ADULTS
TO COMPARE WORKING PASTORS WITH WORKING AMERICANS.
How We Measured Burnout Risk
(11 Items)
• Less confident in ministry than when they began

• Rate mental or emotional health as average or below average

• Seldom or never feel energized by ministry work

• Frequently feel emotionally or mentally exhausted

• Have suffered from depression sometime during their ministry

• Primary day-to-day tasks do not fit their gifts

How We Measured Relationship Risk
(7 Items)

• Rate their spousal relationship as below average or poor

• Rate their relationship with children as below average or poor

• Rate satisfaction with friendships as below average or poor

• Frequently or sometimes feel lonely or isolated from others

• Seldom or never feel well-supported by people close to them

How We Measured Spiritual Risk
(4 Items)

• Rate their spiritual well-being as average, below average or

poor

• Very or somewhat difficult to invest in their own spiritual growth

• Infrequently receive spiritual support from peers or a mentor

• Ministry has not deepened their relationship with Jesus

Type of risk Burnout Relational Spiritual
High 11% 27% 5%
Medium 26% 16% 61%
Low 63% 56% 34%
Investing Time in Own Spiritual
Development
VERY SIMPLE VERY DIFFICULT

23% 7%

SOMEWHAT
SOMEWHAT DIFFICULT
SIMPLE

30% 40%
Most Essential Spiritual Practices to
Pastors for Their Own Spiritual
Development

PRAYER BIBLE READING SILENCE / WORSHIP SERVING SCRIPTURE FASTING

SOLITUDE OTHERS MEMORIZATION
WITHOUT
RECOGNITION
How Often Do Pastors Engage In
Their Primary Spiritual Discipline?
SEVERAL TIMES
A WEEK

EVERY DAY 25%

OR MORE OFTEN
SEVERAL TIMES
4% A MONTH
1% NOT VERY
70% OFTEN / NEVER
How Often Pastors Find Worship
Meaningful, By Risk Metrics 2%
SPIRITUAL
NEARLY
RISK LOW 89% 8% 1% N=524
U.S. PROSTESTANT
EVERY WEEK
SPIRITUAL
2% PASTORS

ONCE OR TWICE RISK MEDIUM

83% 13% 3% *SMALL SAMPLE
A MONTH SIZES INCLUDED

SEVERAL TIMES
SPIRITUAL
RISK HIGH*
58% 24% 14% 5% FOR DIRECTIONAL
PURPOSES
A YEAR 2%
BURNOUT
NOT VERY RISK LOW
88% 8% 2%
OFTEN 3%
BURNOUT
RISK MEDIUM
66% 27% 4%
BURNOUT
RISK HIGH*
53% 34% 10% 3%
RELATIONSHIP
1%
RISK MEDIUM
92% 6% 1%
RELATIONSHIP
RISK HIGH*
70% 22% 6% 3%
“My Current Church Ministry Has
Been Difficult on My Family.”

8%
SOMEWHAT
TRUE
NOT VERY 19%
40%
NOT AT ALL
TRUE
COMPLETELY
TRUE 33%
A Ministry’s Negative Impact on the Family is
Connected with Lower Ministry Satisfaction and
Burnout Risk
35%
DISSATISFACTION
WITH CURRENT
CHURCH MINISTRY
18%
AT HIGH RISK FOR
BURNOUT
7%
3%

MINISTRY HAS BEEN MINISTRY HAS NOT BEEN

DIFFICULT ON FAMILY DIFFICULT ON FAMILY
 PASTORS HAVE

1in4
EXPERIENCED A
PERIOD DURING THEIR
MINISTRY WHEN THEY
SIGNIFICANTLY
DOUBTED THEIR FAITH
 Bar
Pastoral Emotions na
During the Past Three Months,
How Often Have You Felt? % frequently
All Pastors COGOP
Motivated to be a better 72%
leader 69%
Well-supported by people 66%
close to you 51%
59%
Energized by ministry work
48%
Emotionally or mentally 24%
exhausted 21%
15%
Lonely or isolated from others
17%
Inadequate for your ministry 13%
calling 11%

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
How satisfied are you with…? na
% excellent % good
All Pastors
Relationship 70% 26%
w/ spouse COGOP
54% 34%
All Pastors
Relationship 60% 36%
w/ children COGOP
51% 42%
All Pastors
Overall 42% 48%
quality of life COGOP
16% 58%
All Pastors
Mental & 39% 46%
emotional health COGOP
18% 57%

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
How satisfied are you with…? na
% excellent % good
All Pastors
Spiritual 37% 51%
well-being COGOP
24% 61%
All Pastors
Having true 34% 33%
friends COGOP
21% 36%
All Pastors
Physical 24% 43%
well-being COGOP
8% 40%
All Pastors
Respect of the 22% 48%
community COGOP
16% 47%

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
State of Spiritual Health na
Spiritual Disciplines Essential
to Your Own Spiritual Development
All Pastors COGOP
88%
78% 78%
71%

44%
33%
24%
17% 14%14%
12% 12% 12% 8%
3% 2% 3% 2%
Worship

Serving others
without
recognition

Fasting
Prayer

Reading the Bible

for personal
devotions

Silence or
solitude

Accountability

Scripture
memorization

Other
barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
State of Spiritual Health cont. na
How often do you…
Have You Identified
Your Spiritual Gift(s)? All Pastors COGOP
COGOP only Personally consider corporate
worship with your church a
1% meaningful worship 84% 81%
definitely experience
4% (nearly every week)
possibly
Engage in spiritual discipline
not really that is most essential to
72% 57%
spiritual development
not sure 27% (at least once a day)
68%
Receive personal spiritual
support, from a network of
69% 34%
peers or from a mentor
(at least once a month)
Seek opportunities to worship
outside of your own church (at 21% 10%
least once a month)

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
State of Pastoral Finances na
How Would You Describe Your
Financial Condition?
3%3%
Inner ring: All Pastors Outer ring: COGOP
10%
6%
¢ You are able to make ends meet and have
some left over
24% ¢ You have more than you need for yourself
50% 49% and your family
24% ¢ You are just making ends meet
¢ You are struggling to keep up with
18% day-to-day expenses
¢ You require assistance
10% to get by
n Don’t know

©barna.com
Thrivent Financial Barna.com
 Bar
How satisfied are you with…? na
% completely % somewhat
All Pastors
I have a trustworthy, 41% 35%
knowledgeable
person to turn to for COGOP
financial advice. 20% 31%

All Pastors
I am confident that I 23% 49%
will be financially
secure when I retire. COGOP
12% 40%

All Pastors
I am financially 18% 46%
prepared for unforeseen
expenses, such as a COGOP
health crisis. 8% 39%

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
Resources for Crisis na
First Response to a Ministry First Response to a Personal
Crisis Crisis
All Pastors COGOP All Pastors COGOP

Pray/turn to Jesus or 56% Pray/turn to Jesus or 52%

God 71% God 71%
26% Talk with a spouse or 21%
Mentor/spiritual advisor
9% partner 18%
Talk with a spouse or 9% 15%
Mentor/spiritual advisor
partner 13% 7%
4% 2%
Read scripture/the Bible Read scripture/the Bible
1% 1%
Never faced ministry 1% Never faced a family or 1%
crisis 3% personal crisis 3%
4% 8%
Other Other
0% 0%

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
Experience of Crisis and Addiction na

Issues Pastors Have Struggled With Addictions

During Their Ministry % among those who have struggled
All Pastors COGOP with an addiction
65%
COGOP only
45%
Depression
36%

Significant 26%
marital problems 22%

Signicantly 25%
doubted faith 26%
4% 3%
20%
An addiction
14% Porn / Sexual Alcohol Drugs or pain
Addiction killers

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
Resources for Addiction na
How Have You Sought Help For Your Addiction?
% among those who have struggled with an addiction
All Pastors COGOP

Accountability partner/group 59%

24%
Spiritual disciplines or practices 49%
63%
Counseling or psychotherapy 30%
7%
Have not sought treatment/recovery 16%
13%
12-step program 7%
0%
Celebrate Recovery 5%
7%
Other 13%
14%

barna.com Barna.com
 Bar
Impact of Addiction na
How Has Addiction Impacted Your Ministry?
% among those who have struggled with an addiction
All Pastors COGOP

Disclosure of my addiction would 42%

have a negative impact on my
ministry 45%

Honesty about my struggles with 44%

addiction had a positive impact
on my ministry 34%

15%
Other
6%

barna.com Barna.com
 Church
Leadership
Church Leadership
• Church leaders are educated and (usually) well-
prepared.
• Pastors are out in front, but not alone.
• The neglect of prayer within leader teams is a red
flag.
• In-person communication with congregants is
valued and valuable.
Church Leadership
• Ministry opportunities for women are
increasing, but challenging.

• Pastors love being in the pulpit.

• People problems are the chief source of

frustration.
Church leadership
• Denominations are important, but not typically
influential.

• Pastors worry about finding future leaders.

• Low-risk leaders feel their primary tasks “fit”

their calling.
What Does it Mean to Be a Team?
80% of Pastors Work
With a Board of Elders
or Similar Team

1/3 of Pastors Experience

“Frequent Prayer Together”
with Their Elders
Positive Pastor-Elder Dynamics
67%: Elder Board
“Hugely Supportive”
of them

60%: Experience
“Healthy Accountability”

57% have “Clear and Shared

Vision and Values”
Resilient Teams
SHARED
CONSCIOUSNESS

RADICAL DECENTRALIZED
TRANSPARENCY DECISION MAKING

General Stanley Mcchrystal, Team Of Teams

Pastors at Risk of Burnout are
Facing Team Challenges
UNCLEAR AREAS OF 10%
DECISION-MAKING 13%
BURNOUT AUTHORITY 42%
RISK LOW

BURNOUT OFTEN HAS

5%
RISK MEDIUM POWER STRUGGLES
10%
26%
BURNOUT
RISK HIGH FEEL 4%
UNDERAPPRECIATED 10%
BY THE BOARD 26%

ONE OF THE 0%
WORST PARTS 3%
OF MINISTRY 13%
N=297 U.S. PROTESTANT PASTORS
Leading Alone Other

5%

Part of a Team That Develops

Vision and Direction Together

35%
Primarily Responsible for
Their Church’s Vision and
60% Direction
 Bar
State of Discipleship and Evangelism na
How Effective Pastors Believe the Church is at…
“Discipleship” “Reaching Unchurched”
1% 1% 4% 5%
13% 15%
34%
46% Not at all effective

Not very effective

71% 71%
50% Somewhat effective
41%
Very effective
15% 12% 12% 8%
All Pastors
All Pastors COGOP
COGOP All Pastors
All Pastors COGOP
COGOP

Barna.com
 Bar
Partnerships with other Churches na
How often do you partner with other local
churches, regardless of denomination?

COGOP 4% 7% 23% 24% 14% 22% 8% Weekly

Monthly
Several times a year
A few times a year
At least once a year
Less often
Never
All Pastors 7% 19% 24% 17% 8% 12% 13%

Barna.com
 Bar
Ministry Preparation na
What Areas of Ministry Do You Wish You
Had Been More Prepared For? COGOP only

Balancing ministry and

15% Must do everything 7%
administration
Importance of delegation/ Family affected by job 6%
training
11%
Church politics 5%
Counseling burden 10%
Leadership demands 4%
Administrative burden 10%
Lack of respect for pastors 3%
Handling conflict 8%
It never gets easier 2%
Challenges in leadership 8% High expectations; perfection 2%

Be all things to all people 7% Time commitment 1%

Barna.com
 Bar
Vocation Satisfaction na
% very satisfied % somewhat satisfied

All Pastors
Your vocation 72% 25%
as a pastor

COGOP
47% 43%

All Pastors
Your ministry at 53% 41%
your current
church, specifically
COGOP
33% 50%

Barna.com
 Bar
Pastor’s Responsibility on Vision & Direction
na
How Much Responsibility Do You Have
When It Comes to Setting The Vision
2% And Direction of the Church?
1% Inside ring: All Pastors Outer ring: COGOP
20% 7% I have the primary responsibility for
vision and direction.

44% I am part of a team that develops vision

and direction.
49% The board or another governing body is
in charge of vision and direction.

77% Other/don't know

Barna.com
 Bar
State of Denominational Relationship na

Strength of Relationship With Denomination

% among those who affiliated with a denomination

All Pastors COGOP

50%
Very strong
27%

28%
Somewhat strong
43%

11%
Weak: very or somewhat
30%

Barna.com
 Bar
Denominational Structure & Support na

Denomination Preferences How Might the

(Centralization vs. Localization of Denominational Office
Administration) Best Support You?
COGOP only
COGOP only

Centralization (more
9% 4%
denominational) 46% With more advice or
guidance as needed
Localization (more at the
church level) With more resources
35%
or materials
A mix (some central; 36% Other
some at the church level) 53%
Don't know 18%

Barna.com
 Bar
Aspects of Pastoring na
Of the Following Aspects of Serving as a Pastor,
Which One Do You Most Enjoy?
2% Inner ring: All Pastors Outer ring: COGOP
14%
5% 2% ¢ Preaching/Teaching
7%
¢ Evangelizing/Sharing the Gospel
9% 8%
¢ Developing other leaders

10% ¢ Discipling believers

54%
¢ Pastoral care
11% 66%
¢ Organizing church events/meetings/
ministries
8%

Barna.com
 Bar
Tasks which cause the most frustration na
All Pastors COGOP
61%

35% 37%
27%
18% 16% 19% 16% 13%
14% 11% 14% 9% 10%
5%
n/a

Lack of The low level of Church politics Financial and/or Conducting Implementing Lack of training Working with the
commitment spiritual maturity administrative effective change in the and preparation denomination
among lay among duties outreach church for the issues
people churchgoers ministries you face

Barna.com
 Bar
Pastor’s Role na

How Well Do Your Primary Tasks Fit Into Your

Sense of Calling And Giftedness?
All Pastors COGOP

54%
Very well
55%

42%
Somewhat well
39%

4%
Not very well
5%

Barna.com
 Cultural
Leadership
Cultural Leadership
• U.S. adults are ambivalent about “pastors” but
like their pastor.
• People don’t think pastors have much influence.
• Pastors perceive the culture’s growing
indifference.
• Most people believe pastors are beneficial for
their community.
Cultural Leadership
• U.S. adults aren’t sure pastors are a credible
source of wisdom.

• Pastors and U.S. adults agree on the top traits of

good pastors.

• Nearly all pastors say churches play an important

role in racial reconciliation.
Cultural Leadership
• A majority of pastors believes religious freedom is
weakening.

• People believe churches can meet their

community’s need.

• Most pastors don’t feel prepared to teach

cultural engagement.
Changing Expectations of Church
• Increasingly unfamiliar with churchgoing

• Demographics are shifting away from traditional

families

• Declining levels of commitment to regular church

attendance

• Increasingly distractive environment

Never Churched
1993 – 1 in 8 adults
2017 – 1 in 4 adults
Opportunities
• 66% of Adults Believe Pastors Benefit Their
Communities

• People Generally Like “Pastors They Know

Personally”
Challenges
• Only 1 in 5 Adults (19%) Say Pastors are “Very
Influential” in Their Community

• Only 1 in 5 (21%) Say Pastors are “Very Credible”

When it Comes to Important Issues of Our Day
Irrelevant = indifference to faith and
faith leaders

Extreme = constrain and limit faith and

faith leaders
% of Adults Who Believe Pastors are
Very Reliable
• How People Live According To God’s Will – 36%
• God’s Will For Human Beings And The World – 35%
• How Relationships Work And How To Make Them Better – 26%
• Living Out Convictions Privately And Publicly – 23%
• How Christianity Informs Political And Justice Systems – 17%
 About the Project Partners
BARNA GROUP is a research firm dedicated to providing www.Barna.com
actionable insights on faith and culture, with a particular focus
on the Christian church.

PEPPERDINE UNIVERSITY is an independent Christian university www.Pepperdine.edu

Located 30 miles west of Los Angeles in scenic Malibu, CA.
Pepperdine is committed to the highest standards of academic
excellence and Christian values, where students are strengthened
for lives of purpose, service and leadership.

barna.com
Get free Barna
research to your
inbox!

Text BARNA
to 444999
 For more information about this
study and to see the complete findings,
check out our 2015 report:

The State of Pastors

The full report is available at shop.barna.com

or through Barna Access membership.

barna.com