Pastors are more likely than the average American to rate themselves as healthy, but those with lower scores are more likely to contemplate quitting their church and the ministry.
By Aaron Earls
In general, pastors are healthier than the average American, according to a study from the Hartford Institute on Religion Research. A report from their Exploring the Pandemic Impact on Congregation study found clergy have an overall well-being score of 7.6 on a scale of 0 to 10, compared to 6.9 among Americans as a whole in the most recent Harvard Flourishing Study.
The pastor study posed six exclusive questions and 11 questions modified from the Harvard wellness project. Of those shared across the two studies, the average pastor score was higher on all but one question. The largest positive gap for pastors was on the levels of support for the statement: “I understand my purpose in life,” where clergy scored 8.6 and Americans scored 6.8. On the one issue pastors trailed Americans—“My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be.”—pastors scored 6.7 compared to 6.8 for Americans.
The Hartford report grouped pastors by those who had great, good, fair, and poor wellness scores overall. Half of pastors (50%) had good wellness scores, while 16% were great, 27% were fair, and 7% were considered poor.
Half of. U.S. pastors (50%) had good wellness scores, while 16% were great, 27% were fair, and 7% were considered poor, according to the Hartford Institute on Religion Research. Share on XHealthy factors
Based on pastors’ self-rated scores of physical health, 29% are great, 41% are good, 21% fair, and 10% poor. Pastors are more likely to rate themselves on the two extremes when it comes to judging their financial health. Around 3 in 10 (31%) say they are financially great, 34% are good, 24% fair, and 12% poor. Both of these factored into how likely pastors were to rate themselves as healthy overall.
Contributing factors to pastors judging themselves to be in better financial health include being older, serving at a larger church, and being from a mainline denomination. In open-ended questions, many pastors volunteered financial struggles. “[My] salary is not keeping up with inflation,” said one. “[I] have had to pick up work outside my position to supplement income.”
Another also pointed to inflation and living in a high-cost area, saying finances are the greatest stressor in their life. “The church has given small (2-4%) cost of living adjustments each year, but this has not kept up with the inflation of the past five to six years,” they said. “If I were to ask the church for a raise, I think they would give it to me, but it would likely come at the cost of ministry, or, worse, another staff member’s position.”
According to Lifeway Research’s Greatest Needs of Pastors study, 18% say financial stress is one of the most significant issues they face. In a recent study of Southern Baptist pastors, the average compensation increased 0.2% from 2018-2022, while the Consumer Price Index climbed 17.6% during the same period.
Age is a contributing factor to overall health, but probably not in the way you think. Millennial pastors are the most likely to have well-being scores in the poor (12%) and fair (40%) ranges. They are also the least likely to fall in the great range (1%), far behind Generation X (18%) and Boomers (18%).
Millennial pastors are the most likely to have well-being scores in the poor (12%) and fair (40%) ranges. They are also the least likely to fall in the great range (1%), far behind Generation X (18%) and Boomers (18%). Share on XThose who have been at their church a long time and those who have been at their church only a short time are healthier on average than those in the middle years at a congregation. Three in 4 pastors who have been at their church 16 years or more (75%) have health scores in the good or great ranges. Around 2 in 3 of those who have been at their congregation five years or less say the same. Those who have been at their church from six to 15 years have lower scores on average.
Why it matters
In addition to the obvious benefits to pastors feeling healthier and having a better outlook on their lives, the health scores also contribute to a pastor’s job satisfaction. Those with lower personal wellness scores are more likely to say they’ve considered leaving their church or quitting ministry completely.
Most clergy (54%) who have seriously considered quitting their church and ministry fall into the poor or fair ranges, compared to only 22% of clergy considering neither. Among pastors who say they’re not contemplating leaving their congregation or ministry in general, 34% rate their health as great, compared to 4% who’ve considered quitting both.
Most clergy (54%) who have seriously considered quitting their church and ministry fall into the poor or fair ranges for overall health and wellness, according to the Hartford Institute on Religion Research. Share on XPastors who feel healthy across their lives are likely to have a more positive outlook on their ministry as well. So, pastors who want to serve their churches well should commit time to their personal health. Additionally, churches that want effective pastors should ensure their leaders are getting the resources and time needed to be at their best.
For permission to republish this article, contact Marissa Postell Sullivan.
