From Shane

I stared out the window of my home and saw someone I recognized.  He was hurriedly getting out of his truck to run inside and grab a document he’d printed earlier that morning but, in his haste, to make his first appointment had left it on his desk.  His important meeting was to begin in twenty minutes.  He quickly glanced at google maps and saw he was twenty-seven minutes from his destination.  That’s when I saw the man who three minutes before was getting out of his truck.  He was me.  I’ve been a pastor thirty-five years.  That itself is a miracle of the first order.  Eight years into my pastoral ministry, an older wiser pastor admonished me about my need to rest and retreat.  That day, I didn’t like it one bit, but today I realize that apart from his admonishment I’d be looking through the window at another pastor casualty-me.  The current cultural moment has only served to heighten a growing pastoral crisis in the US.  Consider the following data from the Barna Group. 

“The number of pastors who feel burnt out, lonely or unwell is growing: To put it bluntly, Barna Group’s current data does not paint a pretty picture of the state of the American pastor. Over the past few years, Protestant senior pastors have seen a drop in their job satisfaction, their confidence in their calling and their overall sense of well-being. The number of pastors who are feeling burnt out, lonely or unwell is on the rise, and this is especially true of young pastors. In short, things are a little bleak.

How bleak? For one example, our research shows that today’s pastors are deeply struggling with their sense of calling in the wake of COVID, with levels of pastoral self-doubt climbing to new highs. Consider that in 2015, when Barna conducted research for The State of Pastors, 72 percent of pastors said they felt ‘very satisfied’ with their job as a pastor. By 2020, that number had dropped to 67 percent. Then, as of 2022, just 52 percent of pastors are ‘very satisfied’ with their jobs.” - Barna.com/research/pastors-quitting-ministry/

The best program for pastors is no program.  What do I mean?  I’m a pastor and sometimes I need a complete break from all-things ministry related.  Why?  There are numerous reasons but one of the most significant is God does his best and deepest work from a place of rest.  So, one of the ground rules when I guide pastors is, “Absolutely no talk about church or ministry!”  When I announce this, after an astonished glace, I usually detect a sigh of relief and a knowing smile. Then I say, “I really mean it and I’m very serious about it.”  Depending on what we’re chasing, I usually add with complete theological confidence, “Fishing or hunting is very spiritual so let’s throw ourselves into enjoying it with all of its wonder, surprise, sacrifice, defeats, and rewards.”  By now, most pastors wonder whether I’m a bit deranged.  But then at some point during the trip the pastor confides, “I didn’t realize how stressed out I was.”  Sometimes even, “I think I’ve been mildly or moderately depressed and I didn’t even realize it.”  At which point they usually thank me for ministering to them!  I refrain, but want to say, “I didn’t do anything but cook and clean and help you catch some fish or bag your first elk.”  It took me a while to realize that with pastors the best agenda is no agenda other than pursuing fur or fin together in God’s glorious creation.  In this context, ministry to the souls of pastors just happens, it’s lagniappe.  In fact, if pastors detect even a hint of some spiritual agenda, they never let down their well-managed guard.  You might ask, “What if nothing happens?”  To this point, that’s never been the case, but it’s a risk I’m willing to take.