Our Why

Clergy Losses Are Massive

According to studies by the Alban Institute and Fuller Seminary, 50 percent of ministers drop out of ministry within the first five years and many never to go back to church again (Meek et al., 2003,p. 340). Meek, K., McMinn, M., Brower, C., Burnett, T., McRay, B., Ramey, M., et al. (2003, Winter). Maintaining personal resiliency: Lessons learned from evangelical protestant clergy. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 31.4(9), 339-47.) A Duke University study found that 85% of seminary graduates entering the ministry leave within five years and 90% of all pastors will not stay to retirement.

This study also found that the North Georgia clergy study attrition rate ran as high as 90% for those having served 20 years or more. (Kanipe, R. (2007, October). Clergy killers are a problem for our churches everywhere. Wesleyan Christian Advocate. Retrieved December 29, 2007, from www.wcadvocate.org.) These ministers apparently left to preserve what was left of their families, their sanity, their health and their faith, but the costs to individuals, churches, and denominations cannot be overestimated. Ministering to Ministers serves hundreds, but this is only the tip of the iceberg and is continually attempting to extend its reach through awareness building, workshops, counseling, retreats and partnership building.