Egads, I know tons of pastors without churches… and sadly, in the future, it seems even more are likely to find themselves in that position. I also know there are kazillions of unmet needs, and where it might be good to have 2,3, or even 5 pastors, there is only one, and far too many end up bivocational not by choice. I read last month that the Cathedrals in Norway are open 24 hours on Fridays, as they feel there are so many folks seeking and needs are going unmet. There is just no way that Matthew 9:35-38 has been repealed, much less fulfilled.
35Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
So… whats the deal, why are there so many pastors without churches? Ultimately, it comes down to money! Everyone and his brother has to scarf some or a lot, whether it be $200K charges for seminary, or $40K/year for the whippiest audio visual sermon tool ever, or fifty kazillion for the latest and greatest worship building, or parishioners holding back an average of 98% for themselves.
Today is a far cry from when Dr Jame’s Glasse of Lancaster Seminary ~40 years ago, suggested that 10 families could support 1 pastor at an equal standard of living of their own, such that over 80% of that pastors time could be devoted to extended ministries outside their church. Its a far cry from ~100+ years ago, where the local churches saw the need, and banded together to build and run schools, hospitals, universities, and seminaries, such that even the poor could have access. If anything, today its like 100 families are barely supporting a pastor, and thats after they’ve turned their hospitals and schools into profit centers, and or sold them in order to keep their doors open.
When one considers, that 1 person may do the job of what 20 people used to do and is paid more, albeit not 20x more, and that many, but not all goods are a tiny fraction of what they cost both 45 and 100 years ago based upon CPI… the churches lack of funding makes even less sense. Of course, when one digs into things, its not really money, as much as it is priorities… Wants have been turned into needs, and such combined with easy credit has made a fortune for others, but also shifts the average Joe into a mode of scarcity, rather than prosperity. Wants have been turned into needs schedule wise such that the last 3 congregations I was at over the last 20 years are experiencing across the board nearly 50% less weekly attendance, but the same or greater number of members.
So… how to dig out of this… long term wise, it will require a reprioritization on the part of all parties, and thats not going to be pleasant, nor of a short time duration, but is inevitable for a number of reasons. I think the church will come out much stronger, but likely I will kick the bucket before such occurs.
Digging out of this short term wise will take a lot of pastoring… not just sermons on Sunday, baptisms, hospital visitations, marriages, and funerals. Their absolutely will be no lack of meaningful work for the pastorate, the issue really is how to fund them, and thats going to be hard. If an expense doesn’t further the Gospel, its gotta go on the side of the church… and likewise the congregational members also need to start thinking that way as well when it comes to their priorities. It is going to require a lot of creativity* and sacrifice on the part of all parties, and that wont be painless either, as a lot of status quo traditions created in the last 50-100 years, are either going to change, or get wiped out entirely.
In a lot of ways, the seemingly surplus of pastors is similar to the recession’s impact on the Christian music business which I blogged about last year. There are a kazillion of Christian musicians out there… many of whom are absolutely clueless on the business side of things, and cash runs away from them like no tomorrow. Yet, for those who see unmet needs, and can work towards filling them with creativity and careful stewardship of the few remaining resources, this could be a time of wondrous growth. The same I believe applies to a vast number of ministries and the massive real need for pastors. Matthew was correct, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
*Creativity is not just a word to say there are no answers… but that said answers are not readily apparent. Case in point, in some areas of the country, not all that long ago, pastors would not have any vehicle expenses beyond gasoline, being car dealers included their pastor in their rotation of demonstrator vehicles. (much to the chagrin of the dealers insurance companies).
Thanks for bringing attention to an issue which was already on my mind even before people in my family were impacted by it. The first time I visited a Wisconsin mega-church I was impressed by the size (that of a small airport) and comfortable worship environment with a parking garage, karaoke hymnal, listen only mom+baby cafe/sanctuary, rock band and other amenities to make families and children welcome. Wonderful! But it also struck me that this church was built beyond the far edge of town where land was cheap and that it only had one or two pastors to lead a congregation of thousands. What did this remind me of? Sadly, the words “Wal-mart” crossed my mind. Efficient and cost-effective. Now, where do I find those words in the Bible?
Compare this to modern Ireland where many people still have several churches within a short walk of their home or 13th century Ireland where several pre-reformation churches, abbys and seminaries are within sight of the Rock of Cashel. Or even 21st century China where the 20 people who shared an apartment block or the dozen people who shared two 10×10 rooms could worship together under the radar of the communist government. Twelve followers per pastor doesn’t seem very efficient, but is it sufficient? Yes, it seems that Christ’s teaching was on even a more personal level than his 12 disciples. The times when Jesus appeared to thousands were few, but the times when he shared a miracle or parable with two or three were numerous.
Matthew 18:20 “For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”
I think we need to change our thinking. A megachurch of 3000 members isn’t necessarily any better than the dim Chinese apartment where 12 Christians worship. Its congregation is no more Christian and might even contain a higher percentage of non-Christians who are there for tradition, comfort or entertainment. The leadership of even the most well-intended of pastors can be diluted by the traditional momentum of a large church. When it comes to how we measure our church, quantity only counts in the big picture and if you look at that kind of efficiency, 1000 $3000 churches in China or Africa will probably lead more to Christ than one $3 million in the U.S. Christianity should never become a popularity competition for charismatic pastors.
Our very small Irish church deliberately chose to grow by planting a new church with a new pastor rather than by creating a single “one-size-fits-all” mega church. With the bible to focus the new and old church on the Christian community, we hope to prevent further splits. We are all part of the same family but while on earth we don’t have to all live in the same house.
For individual congregations, we shouldn’t care about the number within our church’s roof, we should care about the quality of our ability to help one another learn about and worship Christ. We wouldn’t want our doctor or our child’s piano teacher to be overwhelmed with helping thousands of his customers. Why do we ask our that of our pastors?