Posted on 06/12/2023 10:26:47 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
We’re all getting older. Almost every demographic in the United States is having fewer children. Population growth is slowing, and immigration rates are not fast enough to keep up with the aging nation.
In 1970, the median age was 28. Half the population was older than 28, and half the population was younger than 28. This midpoint is now approaching 40. So we’ve shifted from a younger nation to a middle-aged nation.
The economic implications of this shift are enormous but beyond the scope of this brief article. However, what is of note to the church is the aging of pastors, which has occurred at an even faster rate.
We are witnessing the disappearance of the 30-something and 40-something pastor
The age of a pastor has increased significantly. Now, there is nothing wrong with an older pastor. Pastors with decades of experience typically have the wisdom and perspective needed within an established church. The issue is not one of age. It’s the lack of younger pastors available to replace them that is the problem.
A typical pastor today is approaching retirement age. Frankly, there are not enough younger pastors to replace a large group of retiring Baby Boomer pastors.
The perspective of some churches with older, retiring pastors is exacerbating the problem. Once they begin to search for a pastor, they will look for an idealized version of a 30-something Baby Boomer pastor from a bygone era. Obviously, this pastor does not exist. The few candidates available will look and lead very differently. As a result, churches will struggle to fill positions as willing candidates get frustrated with search teams.
Bi-vocational models and co-vocational models are becoming more popular
Not only is the median age of a pastor increasing, but the median size of a church is also decreasing. The response to this phenomenon is an increase in the number of pastors and staff who will not receive full-time compensation. A bi-vocational pastor serves at a church that cannot afford a full-time position. Co-vocational pastors serve churches in a mutually agreeable arrangement in which their positions are not full-time, even though funds are available.
What are the opportunities for bi-vocational and co-vocational positions?
A marketplace job puts you in the middle of culture on a regular basis.
Pastors are getting older, and this trend will likely continue in the near term. However, there are opportunities for churches. The future can be bright with bi-vocational and co-vocational pastors.
Originally published at Church Answers.
Sam Rainer is president of Church Answers and pastor at West Bradenton Baptist Church in Florida.
The average age of Catholic priests is almost 70.
I know this sounds harsh, but the Catholic Church sabotaged her brand when it flooded her ranks with Marxist homosexual predators.
I wonder what the median age of Imams in America might be?
Sometimes people forget how massive the baby boom was. Subsequent generations won’t match it for a while.
Every “work” category is going to be hungry for people. Pastors—requiring some specialized training and motivation are likely to be in high demand. Churches will consolidate the same way banks and hospitals are merging today.
It’s the human cycle. Sometimes the cycles are brief and other last a long time.
Most seminaries have gone ‘woke’ anyway - the pastors they are pushing out have lost all common sense - just my experience …
Not so in the Tridentine Mass parishes.
The one seminary that trains these Priests is filled.
Our parish has TWO priests. One in his late 50s or so, the other in his 30s.
Of course our Pope hates us. He doesnt like our orthodoxy and is trying to put the kaibosh on parishes like us.
Our Bishop leaves us be. Maybe its because we always make our assesment (or paying the “protection money” as I call it)
Most churches no longer follow the bible and their is simply no inspiration for young people to truly believe in God or to be inspired to be a pastor. The world is teaching them that God is a myth and that they should set their hearts on worldly goals.
The article glosses over one point, and ignores a second.
First the number of churchgoers is shrinking, and the number of churches is shrinking. A declining supply is being offset by a decining demand.
Second, the age of Protestant seminarians is increasing. A greater number of pastors are entering seminaries with life experience than was the case in prior generations. The old path was college then you went off to seminary. Now, seminaries are offering remote, evening, and online classes targeting folks that have jobs and families and who can't pack up and move across the country for 3 or 4 years of graduate education.
I met a seminary professor recently. He had been teaching since the mid 80s. (Yes, he was pretty old.) I asked him if seminary students had changed over the years.
Yes. Classes used to be larger and student goals were basically to go out and lead a congregation. Now, there are smaller classes. And the students often want to be a chaplain of some sort, like prison or hospital ministry. Because it’s a steady paycheck. People hesitate to take the economic risk of becoming a pastor.
First the number of churchgoers is shrinking, and the number of churches is shrinking. A declining supply is being offset by a decining demand.
Second, the age of Protestant seminarians is increasing. A greater number of pastors are entering seminaries with life experience than was the case in prior generations. The old path was college then you went off to seminary. Now, seminaries are offering remote, evening, and online classes targeting folks that have jobs and families and who can’t pack up and move across the country for 3 or 4 years of graduate education.
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