Pastor Crisis: Only 1/3 of seminary students say they want to pastor a church. That trend is magnified by the fact that just 8% of clergy are now 35 or younger. Many are nearing retirement age, and many others are departing for other careers. Eldon Fry, Focus on the Family’s Pastoral Ministries Department, has been tracking the trend, which he said is readily apparent. "The numbers that are leaving far exceed the numbers in our seminaries and Bible colleges, so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that we’re dealing with a shortage." He regularly gets calls from denominational leaders who perceive a major problem dead ahead. "For instance, one region said that 80% of their pastors were within 3-years of retirement, and had absolutely no idea of how they were going to replace them," Fry said. Experts suggest that churches actively mentor people with ministry skills and help them make it into Bible college or seminary. (Pastors Weekly Briefing 8/3/01)
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