Share of Pastors Considering Quitting Drops After Pandemic, Barna Finds

February 2, 2026

A new study, released by Barna Research, shows that U.S. pastors who say they have seriously considered leaving ministry has dropped sharply since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Christianity Daily reports that the number of pastors considering resignation has fallen to 24% in 2025, according to a December 2025 survey of more than 410 Protestant senior pastors.

Barna’s 2025 State of the Church study, produced in partnership with Gloo, asked participants, “Have you given real, serious consideration to quitting being in full-time ministry within the last year?”

Barna reports that, “[Some] 24 percent of U.S. senior Protestant pastors say they have seriously considered leaving full-time ministry within the past year — a decline from the peak levels recorded during the height of the pandemic era.”

The number of pastors who answered “yes” to that question in 2025, represents a substantial decrease from March 2022, when 42% of 510 pastors surveyed said they had considered leaving.

Researchers noted that, while the pandemic significantly shaped the type of stress faced by pastors, it was not the only factor influencing that downward trend.

According to Christianity Daily, researchers explained, “As churches stabilize, many pastors report recalibrating expectations — gaining greater clarity around what is sustainable and where boundaries are necessary. Congregations are also rediscovering rhythms of worship and community that were disrupted for years, reducing the constant sense of emergency leadership.”

Barna reports that, even though the latest data shows a reduced number of pastors considering leaving, that doesn’t mean that the pressures of the ministry have disappeared.

Researchers concluded, “A meaningful minority of leaders still feel close to the edge, and younger pastors in particular remain vulnerable to burnout. But the shift matters.”

Photo: top, Credit: Unsplash/Ben White