The tragedies of pastoring

Had a great conversation with fellow blogger and church planter Bill Streger on my way home from two days at our denom's headquarters. Bill points out a must-read post about the tragedies of pastoring from Mark Driscoll's site. A sampling of the stats from Barna Research and Focus on the Family:

1500 pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.

50% of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.

80% of pastors and 84% of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.

50% of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.

80% of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.

70% of pastors constantly fight depression.

Almost 40% polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.

70% said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

Ministry is full-on spiritual warfare.

Comments

[Zach]

one suggestion as a remedy is to "fill your plate" and another is "leave margin". what gives?

[Bill Hutchison]

This is always such a struggle in full-time ministry. Finding the balance, as Zach stated, is always a challenge.