Why 734 Pastors Quit (and How Their Churches Could Have Kept Them)
LifeWay Research studies how churches can help pastors last longer.
Lisa Cannon Green – Facts & Trends [ POSTED 1/12/2016 10:27AM ]
Hermanturnip / Flickr
No sabbatical. No help with counseling. No clear picture of what’s expected.
Hundreds of former evangelical pastors say these were the crucial elements missing from the final churches they led before quitting the pastorate.
A recent study by LifeWay Research points to ways churches can encourage pastors to stay in the ministry, said Ed Stetzer, executive director of the Nashville-based organization.
“Almost half of those who left the pastorate said their church wasn’t doing any of the kinds of things that would help,” Stetzer said. “Having clear documents, offering a sabbatical rest, and having people help with weighty counseling cases are key things experts tell us ought to be in place.”
My commentary: Carol Clemans – Certified Pastoral counselor
Today, 1/12/16, on American Family Radio I heard Bryan Fischer discussing the above article on his program Focal Point. As a former pastor, he declared that every church of any size needs to have a qualified counselor on staff as a resource to relieve the pastor of this part of ministry. Bryan said it is the pastor’s responsibility to preach, teach and disciple his people, not to try and counsel people and their problems.
In reading the entire article on line, pastors said seminaries did not teach them how to deal with people’s problems through counseling. Their education was based mostly on preaching and theology.
When Bishop Kenneth Haney brought me on staff part-time at Christian Life Center, Stockton, CA., 23 years ago after my formal education, he told me, “If most pastors would admit it, we do not have the education or skills to help people with relational and emotional issues.” I provided pastoral counseling for him for the last 10 years that he pastored before he moved to MO as Supt. of the UPCI. I also taught at Christian Life College for six years under Dr. Daniel Segraves – one of the classes being “Principles of Counseling.”
We are praying now for God’s funding to move to join with a church that desires my counseling and teaching ministry. Through God, I can be a major blessing to a local pastor relieving them of the counseling issues, teaching God’s Word for spiritual, emotional and relational growth as I did for Pastor Kenneth Haney for 10 years. Pastor Haney told me more than once, “I know you are doing good because I see it in the people.” With me doing the counseling, it freed him to minister on any subject at any time, as he did not carry the counseling stress issues.
The Lord orders my steps and He will guide and provide in His perfect will. God has blessed me with a unique ministry of helping hurting believers nationwide by providing God-based counseling by phone/Skype at ½ the cost of most counselors.
Everyone involved in ministry is unique because of the individual life experiences, education and ministry history. Baptized in the Holy Ghost for 60 years, teaching the Bible for 50 years, being married 45 years, raising two children who are loving God today with their own families, 23 years as a Certified Pastoral Counselor and Certified Christian Life Coach, gives me a broad range of foundation to minister in teaching and counseling and being supportive to pastors.
I’m the President of Life Enrichment Ministries, Inc. 501c3 with a Board of Directors of two pastors. The goal of my teaching, counseling and writing ministry is to help others grow and heal spiritually, emotionally and relationally. People need to hear the Word of God to learn how to be holy as He is holy. God’s Word provides truth to heal the broken in heart. We the church must become healing helpers.
The pastor that partners with my ministry will benefit from this teaching. We need the education to know how to help people overcome porn addiction, sexual abuse recovery, sexual purity for all ages, problem marriages, parenting issues, emotional healing, grief processing, etc., all according to the Word of God.
I encourage people who show an interest in counseling issues to become educated in God-based counseling. There are resources even for training lay people to be counseling helpers for churches. We don’t go to a dentist to have our foot operated on. We go to the person who has wisdom and education in a specific area for the help we need.
God is the Great Counselor through His Word, but we need education in how to use the Word of God for spiritual and emotional healing from abuse and adversity in life. Praying about situations is necessary, but hurting people need insight on how to change their ‘stinkin thinkin’ with God’s truth. Romans 12:2 – we will be transformed by renewing our minds with His truth!
God brings pastors to my ministry asking me to help their hurting people nationwide by phone/Skype. I’m thankful for pastors that have the wisdom to provide what their people need in counseling that is beyond their understanding – this is a wise shepherd. My father, who received this Holy Ghost salvation 90 years ago, planted in my heart the love for God’s Word as my pastor since I was a child. From that foundation, God brought me into a Bible teaching and counseling education ministry. At age 69, I’m deeply thankful to be a conduit of His truth for His glory in helping others.
www.carolclemans.org – bio, 235+ articles, teaching CD’s & DVD’s, book: God’s Design for Marriage (636) 448-0121- carol@carolclemans.org
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