So you are a pastor?

• 80 percent believe that pastoral ministry affects their families negatively.
• 30 percent say that being in ministry is an outright hazard to their family.
• 75 percent report they’ve had a significant stress-related crisis once in their ministry.
• 50 percent feel unable to meet the needs of the job.
• 90 percent feel they’re inadequately trained to cope with ministry demands.
• 25 percent of pastor’s wives see their husband’s work schedule as a source of conflict.
• Those in ministry are equally likely to have their marriage end in divorce as general church members.
• The clergy has the second highest divorce rate among all professions.
• 80 percent of pastors say they have insufficient time with their spouse.
• 45 percent of pastors’ wives say the greatest danger to them and their family is physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual burnout.
• 56 percent of pastors’ wives say that they have no close friends.
• 52 percent of pastors say they and their spouses believe that being in pastoral ministry is hazardous to their family’s well-being and health.
• 45.5 percent of pastors say that they’ve experienced depression or burnout to the extent that they needed to take a leave of absence from ministry.
• 70 percent do not have someone they consider a close friend.

(Source:  Pastors at Greater Risk, by H. B. London and Neil Wiseman, quoted in Leading on Empty, by Wayne Cordeiro)

Reclaim Leadership is a 501(c)(3) faith-based charity dedicated to infusing hope and providing Biblical perspective to pastors and Christian leaders.