AGROS MINISTRIES
Risk Factors
As mentioned in the book Pastors at Risk by H.B.
London & Neil Wiseman.Victor Press. 1993.
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1991 Survey of Pastors (Fuller Institute of
Church Growth)
90% work more than 46 hours a week
80% believed pastoral ministry affected their
families negatively
33% believed ministry was a hazard to their family
75% reported a significant stress related crisis
at least once in their ministry
50% felt themselves unable to meet the needs
of the job
90% felt inadequately trained to cope with ministry
demands
70% say they have a lower self esteem now compared
to when they started in ministry
40% reported serious conflict with a parishoner
at least once a month
37% confessed to having been involved in inappropriate
sexual behavior with someone in the church
70% do not have someone they consider a close
friend
George Barna, What Americans Believe
- Less than one half of the people most committed
to the church say that their church performs its primary duties with excellence
- 2 out of 3 adult Americans (67%) say there is
no such thing as absolute truth
Blackmon & Hart, Clergy Assessment &
Career Development
- 12% of ministers report they were depressed often
or always in their ministry
Malony & Hunt, The Psychology of Clergy
- William Moore in a study of 341 clergy from 36
denominations and 43 states showed that unrealistic expectations are a
major factor in pastor burnout
- 60% of clergy wives hold full time jobs or are
involved in careers
- Some studies suggest 70% of clergy report experiencing
major distress
- 33% have considered leaving the ministry
Leadership, Fall 1992 Mariage
Problems Pastors Face
- 81% insufficient time together
- 71% use of money
- 70% income level
- 64% communication difficulties
- 63% congregational differences
- 57% differences over leisure activites
- 53% difficulties in raising children
- 46% sexual problems
- 41% Pastor's anger toward spouse
- 35% differences over ministry career
- 25% differences over spouse's career
Current Thoughts & Trends,
December 1992
- 28% of pastors said ministry was a hazard to
family life
- 16% said it didn't affect family either way
- 57% thought it was beneficial
- 94% felt under pressure to have the "ideal"
family
- Estimated 20% of 300,000 clergy suffer from long
term stress
- One year the Southern Baptist paid out $64
million in stress related claims, second in dollar amounts only to maternity
benefits
Leadership, Fall 1992
- 70% indicated their compensation contributed
to marriage conflicts
- 22% feel forced to supplement their church income
Current Thoughts & Trends,
May 1992
- Last 3 years, typical pastor's salary increased
less than 1/2 the inflation rate
- Average increase for 1988-1991 was 7.4%
- Over 40% of single staff pastors felt they were
underpaid
- 33% of senior pastors felt they were underpaid
Duane Alleman, Theology News & Notes,
Fuller Seminary
- Survey of 228 Pastors' wives revealed
- 45% have no close friends
- almost half felt constrained to develop close
friends in the local church context
Ministries Today, Nov / Dec 1992
- Peter Wagner surveyed 572 pastors concerning
prayer
- Average pastor spent 22 minutes a day
- 57% spend less than 20 minutes a day
- 34% spend between 20 minutes and 1 hour
- 9% pray for 1 hour or longer
Focus on the Family Survey
- 1500 pastors surveyed
- Over half do not meet with a prayer partner regularly
- 1 out of 4 do not have a trusted friend in ministry
- Only 20% have 2 or more paid staff members
Current Thoughts & Trends,
July 1992
- 3 out of 4 church members would give their pastors
an "A" (44%) or a "B" (33%)
- Only 4% would give them a failing grade
- While clergy salaries have risen, buying power
has decreased
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