If you want to know why pastors are leaving ministry
There’s a lot of people to compassionately ask—but don’t do it the minute they are leaving maybe?
If the PCUSA wanted to do a study (which are are renowned for) we could, but a study is just the beginning of the work…
I personally asked around during Covid and 30-40 PCUSA pastors told me very personal, very heartfelt stories about why they were leaving ministry.
I carry them in my heart and pray for them a lot because I want them to be happy where they are 🙂 (I realize I should clarify this) and some of them need healing and some of them might come back but only a couple and only if it’s right. After almost every conversation I affirmed every person’s choice to leave, because of course they were doing the right thing for them.
And of course every SINGLE person had legitimate huge, really hard, personal reasons for leaving that made the choice really valid and really tough.
But maybe it doesn’t have to be this way.
Maybe it does. Maybe ministry is a dying profession no matter what.
However, if we wanted to change the way pastors are paid and supported we could. Pay and congregational support/treatment were the two most named reasons. (Status due to gender, race and sexuality were also huge).
I still am hoping we will. Because I bet it will help the church to change into the justice bearing entity the way it needs to be.
Either way, I’m glad we are starting the conversation.
katyandtheword 