The pastor shortage in the ELCA comes as an increasing number of pastors in general revealed in a recent study that they are considering quitting their jobs due to challenges such as stress, loneliness, political divisions and other worries like their church being in decline.
In 2017, well before the COVID-19 pandemic, a Barna Group report also showed the average age of Protestant pastors in the United States had increased by a decade over the previous 25 years, putting it just six years below the current minimum retirement age of 62.
And just months into the pandemic in 2020, Vanderbloemen Search Group CEO and founder William Vanderbloemen predicted there would be high staff turnover in churches and a demand for more priestly pastors as the world emerged from COVID-19 lockdowns.
Many longtime church leaders, particularly men, accelerated their retirement plans due to the pandemic.
Recalling some of the reasons leaders were giving for an accelerated succession timeline, Vanderbloemen said he hears: “Well you know what? I just didn’t sign up for this and they really need a digital native and I’m not.” And “It’s time to speed this up and get the next person in.”
Laurie Jungling, the ELCA’s bishop for Montana said – “Pastors are tired. They’re giving a lot of themselves to help folks deal with the trauma of the pandemic.”