More Pastors Are Leaving Ministry Over Church Conflict

April 16, 2024

Researchers at the Hartford Institute for Religion Research have found that conflict is inciting some pastors to either leave or consider leaving their churches.

Christianity Today reports that church conflict is on the rise according to a new report titled: “‘I’m Exhausted All the Time’: Exploring the Factors Contributing to Growing Clergy Discontentment.”

The research is based on a Fall 2023 survey of nearly 1700 religious leaders. The report showed that 72% of U.S. churches reported some kind of disagreement or conflict. That number is up from 63% in early 2023 and 64% in 2020.

Tony Rose is a Southern Baptist minister with a degree in conflict management who consults with churches in conflict. Rose says, “All conflict produces friction, and friction will always produce heat. But the one who manages conflict properly turns that friction into traction, not heat.”

According to Christianity Today, more conflict in a church increases the pastor’s likelihood of leaving. However, conflict is not the only reason that pastors considered leaving.

The report cited concerns over congregational unwillingness to meet new challenges, diminished congregational vitality and attendance numbers of 50 people or less also contributed to thoughts of leaving the congregation.

The report concluded: “What is positively associated with fewer thoughts of leaving is being in a church with a bright outlook for the future, one that has less conflict, is more open to change and adaptation, and cultivates good, healthy relationships between the members and pastor.”

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