Yes, I wrote about that last time. I need to again!

Since I wrote that last Current, three related items have come across my desk. First, Congregations (a journal for denominational leaders published by Alban Institute) dedicated an entire issue to the problem of ministerial recruitment. Ten articles, including one by David Wood (an American Baptist who works for the Louisville Institute) address the question: Where are all the young clergy? Second, the most recent issue of The Christian Century has three articles concerning seminarians, vocation, and inviting youth to ministry. Third, the issue of Leadership from St. Paul School of Theology presented relevant research from the United Methodist Church.

The Fund for Theological Education conducted the largest survey to date—involving 10,000 students. While interpretations vary, the data are clear. Fewer persons are entering professional congregational leadership. In some areas, the number of ministerial candidates is half what it was only 15 years ago.

Further, the pool is older. Today, nearly 60% of seminary students are over 30. For mainline Protestants, the average age is 38. Compare that with law (average is 26) and medicine (average is 23). While there are some good things about this (I confess I am a second-career minister), there remain alarming aspects to this number.

Further, ministry in a congregation is the primary goal of only half of so-called “ordination track” seminary students. They are attracted to chaplaincy, counseling, social service, or mission work.

Lastly, there has been a major change in the path taken by persons to enter ministry. In years past, persons grew up in church, attended Sunday School, participated in a variety of youth programs, went to a Christian college (or were actively involved in a campus ministry at a state university), and then entered seminary.

Today, persons enter ministry with little or no childhood experience in the church, do not participate in ministry options during college, take a college track without regard for ministry preparation, and then choose to enroll in seminary years after undergraduate study.

Programs designed to “attract” ministerial candidates so far have met with poor results. A United Methodist study found that the most frequent common denominator discovered among young persons who enter the ministry is a religious camping or retreat experience.

David Wood alarms us all when he suggests that the real question is: Do we have clear and sufficient reasons as to why young persons should enter the ministry?

The question strikes at the core of our Christian existence, and needs to be asked by seminaries, colleges, denominations, congregations, and ministers. Can we give a persuasive reason for persons to listen for, and respond to God’s call to congregational ministry? It is time for serious soul-searching.

It was Christ who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…. Ephesians 4:11-12, NIV

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