Will There Be a Shortage of Preachers

Catholics have spoken for many years of the shortage of priests. Now, polling of Protestant preachers reveals wide dissatisfaction with their careers. Many say they are considering leaving their churches and the ministry entirely. In polls preachers site poor pay, internal strife and lack of appreciation. Apparently, the temptation to leave is present among both women and men in the ministry. 

When I was a young man, I knew well a couple of young preachers. Both talked of difficult church board members who demanded this and that. In our church in Fargo I know there were difficult board members. Once a preacher confided to my wife his sleepless nights due to an aggressive board member who insisted all volunteer Sunday School teachers hold certification from the state's Department of Education. He knew there would be a shortage of teachers. A crisis developed resolved, of course, by rejection of the requirement.   

Preachers contemplating a career change also site wealthy church members who want to determine the direction of church policies and affairs. 

According to the polling, these problems and the preachers considering a change cut across the board from conservative to liberal denominations and no denominations. While seminaries where preachers are trained have fewer students, there are a large group graduating every year and probably will be willing to accept jobs left by preachers who have been out there for a least a few years. 

When I have discussed the decline in faith numbers, commenters have pointed out correctly the Christian faith is huge. This means it can bleed millions of members and preachers and remain a massively large group. Nevertheless, a group in decline will do things differently than a group in ascendancy.

I would not be surprised to see parts of the faith dive to the conservative side and other parts become more liberal.