“While this story isn’t all wrong, the assertion that pastors are leaving the pulpit in droves because of ministry burnout is a myth. The research tells a different story.”
According to the National Survey of Religious Leaders report, “Clergy who lead predominantly white mainline Protestant churches are much less likely to hold traditionally orthodox Christian beliefs than clergy in any other group.”
According to a Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors, almost 3 in 4 say their congregation collects physical offerings by passing something around at the worship service.
Trustees have asked Lifeway’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Joe Walker to serve as interim president and CEO until a new president is named, in accordance with Lifeway’s bylaws.
“I cannot tell you how thankful we are for this moment,” Ben Mandrell said. “This big hurricane of Bellevue love has just swallowed us up.”
Compared to a decade ago, pastors have less training in counseling but are more hesitant to refer church members to professionals.
The pastor search committee at Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tennessee, has unanimously recommended that Ben Mandrell, CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources become the church’s next senior pastor.
Among married pastors, 9 in 10 (89%) say their spouse is enthusiastic about their life in ministry together.
In his report to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 11, Ben Mandrell said Lifeway’s role is to “build things for the body of Christ,” not to be one-size-fits-all.
The National Survey of Religious Leaders report revealed 35% of all clergy in the U.S. serve bivocationally, holding an additional job outside of their congregational ministry.
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