Most weeks here include phone calls and emails from those looking for opportunities to shepherd a Southwest congregation. Many of the hopeful callers have been looking for quite some time. Our oft-repeated response is "we have few openings and it is very slow in the pastoral 'job market.'"
Depending upon who you read, you’ll encounter varying explanations for this situation. The Pew Forum in a recent article reported that we’ve moved from a clergy shortage to a clergy glut in North America. The reasoning is that the glut is making the position search more competitive and difficult. However, MSN recently reported that one of the fastest growing areas of professional need for the next decade will be for new clergy. Population growth and retirements drive their conclusion.
Regardless of the opinion of experts, our take is that pastoral opportunities in evangelical churches in this region are very limited at this point in time. Why? One reason is that we evangelicals are experiencing a net loss in available churches every year and have been for quite some time. Secondly, the economy has caused many staff cutbacks and hiring freezes in churches. Thirdly, the overwhelming percentage of evangelical churches either plateaued or in decline has created a specific pastoral need that most candidates aren't equipped to fill. Lastly, we’re not opening enough new churches to offset the reality of church plateau, decline and death.
So what are searching pastors to do? Here are some possible answers . . . and you’re not going to like all of them:
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Retool yourself to be able to truly help declining and plateaued congregations . . . it’s the major market right now.
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Start something . . . evangelicals need new congregations. You’re likely going to have to “bootstrap” your dream as the funding for church plants is not what it used to be even though the need is still great.
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Move your thinking from “this is my career” to “this is my calling.” It will help you find new ways to discover opportunities and fund them.
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Be a missionary in this culture. There are many churches that need shepherds, but can’t afford the traditional pastor. Think bi-vocational.
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Apply your calling at a church that needs staff help, but can’t afford it. In other words, become a volunteer.
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Develop a skill base that will help fund your calling even when the church can't.
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Sharpen all your pastoral skills and especially those needed for effectiveness in this changing North American culture.
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Get deep in the Lord. Make the Bible, prayer and Godly friends your most precious tools.
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Find a coach who can help you. Become a coach yourself.
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Learn to network.
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Don’t give up. Christ’s church still needs His called shepherds. If you’re one of them, there’s a place for you. It just may not look like it used to. Pray and persist. |
