“Having a safe space and a sacred space to share my story with others who are on a similar journey was invaluable. The presence of others helped me to know I am not alone, and I am not beyond recovery.”
Columbia Seminary Addresses a Silent Epidemic of Clergy in Crisis The Center for Lifelong Learning at Columbia Seminary offers the Ministering to Ministers program in support of clergy in crisis, specifically, those who have experienced a forced termination. BY ISRAEL GALINDO, ASSOCIATE DEAN FOR LIFELONG LEARNING
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he silent epidemic of clergy forced terminations continues. According to a 2008 study by the Ministering to Ministers Foundation, • Nearly a fourth, 22.8% of pastors have either been terminated or forced to resign. • Nearly two-thirds, 62%, of the forced-out pastors said the church that dumped them had also forced out other pastors—and 41% said the church had done it more than twice. • Nearly half, 43%, of the forced-out pastors said a ‘faction’ in the church forced them to leave, and 71 % of those indicated that the ‘faction’ numbered 10 or fewer congregates • Only 20% of the forced-out pastors said the real reason for their leaving was made known to the congregation. Tim Sledge, in Goodbye Jesus: An Evangelical Preacher’s Journey Beyond Faith, wrote about the silent epidemic of clergy forced termination. Citing a survey reviewed by Leadership magazine, he wrote: “Squabbles that end in the ouster of ministers are a recurrent and very painful part of church life; congregations are often bitterly divided, with a loss of membership. The survey reported that such dismissals leave pastors and their families wounded spiritually and psychologically, as well as financially, because they frequently must move to find a new position, with children switching schools and spouses changing jobs. Perhaps one of 10 drop out of the ministry entirely after such an episode, the study indicated.” VA N T A G E
