To improve the morale of clergy, the second Sunday of October was recently designated as Clergy Appreciation Day by Pasadena, CA-based Charles E. Fuller Institute of Church Growth. National observance of the day is intended to generate expressions of support honoring the work performed by clergy.
A survey conducted by the institute reveals that many clergy are disappointed in their work.
Among pastors surveyed, 80% say their ministry has a negative impact on their families, three-quarters report at least one stress-related crisis during their ministry, and about 40% experience a serious conflict with a parishioner at least once a month.
Roughly 70% of the clergy surveyed say they have no one whom they consider a close friend. The same percentage reports their self-image is lower than before they became clergy, and half feel they are unable to meet the demands of their profession.
Half of those surveyed say they’ve considered leaving the ministry. The most common workplace problem cited by 90% of clergy is inadequate training to cope with workplace demands.
Another study conducted for the Episcopal Church in association with Rutgers University indicates clergy within that denomination nearly unanimously desire better training and discussion to prepare themselves for conducting funerals, dealing with conflict and handling administrative responsibilities.
– Protestant ministers are the most common clergy, followed by Roman Catholic priests and Jewish rabbis. Approximately 980,000 clergy serve more than 70 Christian denominations, while about 4,300 rabbis serve the four major branches of the Jewish faith.
– Nearly 25% of clergy work 60-plus hours per week. About 13% of clergy older than 65 still work compared to about 3% of professionals in secular vocations.
– Besides religious and community responsibilities, the duties of clergy typically include overseeing building maintenance and ordering supplies.
– Three out of four clergy complete at least a bachelor’s degree, and most stay in their chosen profession for life. About one in eight are women despite prohibitions from serving in many denominations.
– Annual wages vary widely: Rabbis earn between $45,000 to $75,000; Protestant ministers usually earn at least $30,000; Diocesan priests average $11,000; while religious priests take vows of poverty and depend on their church for life necessities.
– Finding clergy work is most competitive among Protestant denominations due to the high number of qualified applicants. Demand for Jewish rabbis exceeds supply in smaller communities, while supply and demand are more balanced in urban settings. The shortage of Roman Catholic priests is expected to continue in the foreseeable future.
– The number of women, African-Americans and Hispanics studying in Christian seminaries has tripled in the past 25 years. Nearly one-third of theological students are women, 9% are African-Americans, 3% are Hispanics and 7% are Asian/Pacific Islanders.
– In recent years, ordination of women, gays and lesbians has become a major ethical debate within denominations, replacing debates in past generations about interracial marriages, segregation and slavery.
Sources: National Council of Churches; Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance, Kingston, Ontario; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
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