Pastors Less Exhausted, but Vocational Satisfaction Remains at Its Lowest Level in a Decade

July 27, 2026

New research by Barna Group, conducted as part of its “State of the Church” research with Gloo, finds that despite improvements in exhaustion and confidence in their calling, Protestant pastors still struggle with vocational satisfaction and personal well-being.

Christianity Daily reports that researchers collected data between Jan. 29 and Feb. 8, surveying 502 senior Protestant pastors from a range of denominations across the United States.

Researchers say the findings show that pastors are experiencing less exhaustion and greater confidence in their calling, although vocational satisfaction remains at its lowest level in more than a decade, according to Baptist Press.

52% of respondents said they most needed help maintaining their physical and mental health and that figure increased to 62% among pastors age 45 and younger.

According to Christianity Daily, the survey also found that confidence in ministry calling has improved substantially, with 58% of pastors now expressing assurance in their vocation, compared with 35% during the pandemic years of 2020 through 2022.

Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research said, “Pastors deserve the time to step away and ask honestly whether their role is an expression of their actual gifts.”

“There’s a difference between recovering from burnout and actually resolving it,” Copeland said.

Researchers said smaller adjustments can still support well-being, including taking regular breaks from desk work, maintaining consistent sleep and engaging in exercise unrelated to ministry responsibilities.

Photo: top, Credit: Unsplash/Ben White