Cabinet faces issues of aging clergy

10/15/2012

 

Over the last several weeks, I have been engaged in conversations about "retirement" (not mine) but the growing number of retirements that are being projected for 2013. The conversations have led me to wonder, "What is the forecast for retirements over the next five years?"

I have analyzed the age demographics for the West Michigan Conference.  It was eye-opening to me, particularly in light of a recent age demographic released from the General Board of Pension and Health Benefits. The General Board found that United Methodist Elders, age 55 to 72 represent 53% of all active elders. It is apparently the same trend all across mainline denominations. But the West Michigan demographic is even more disturbing.

First, some explanatory statements. Our demographic picture does not focus on Elders only. I looked at all pastors currently serving under Episcopal appointment in a local church. The figures are not inclusive of those who are appointed to ‘extension ministries.’ In other words, none of the Superintendents, denominational appointments or those appointed to teach are included in this demographic. While this is not a definitive set of numbers, it is a picture of a trend and highly instructive.

We have 323 current appointments in West Michigan. 

  • 12 appointments are held by those who are 70 years of age or older … or 4%
  • 31 are between the ages of 65 and 69 … or 9.5%
  • 78 are between the ages of 60 and 64 … or 24.3%
  • 80 are between the ages of 55 and 59 … or 24.7%
  • 56 are between the ages of 50 and 54 … or 17.5%
  • 44 are between the ages of 40 and 49 … or 13.5%
  • And 22 are under age 40 … or 6.5%

Bottom line. While the general church is showing 53% of clergy over 55 … West Michigan is 64%!

From this Superintendent’s perspective, those numbers represent an incredible reality check. There is reason for concern. There is also reason to get to work with a sense of vision and optimism. If we will seize this moment in time, it is an extraordinary opportunity to "re-think" our church.

We must start by identifying and mentoring the next generation of pastoral leaders. The support, education, accountability and effectiveness of both clergy and laity must become an unwavering goal.

Then we must place our greatest resources in creating vital and growing congregations. Youth and young adult ministries must be jump-started. Partnerships between congregations and creative models of co-operative ministry must be designed, developed and implemented, because what was sustainable in the past will unlikely be sustainable in the future.

These are the issues that are front and center before our Bishop and Cabinet, as well as conference leadership, local church pastors and lay leadership teams. The decisions that need to be made, the church culture that needs to be altered and expanded, the vast mission field that is before us all demand our prayerful listening for God’s voice among God’s people. 

As challenging as this time is, remember this; "with God, ALL things are possible!"

Rev. Dr. Robert Hundley
Dean of the Cabinet, West Michigan Conference
Superintendent, Lansing District

 

Comments

1. Laurie McKinven-Copus wrote on 10/17/2012 4:40:10 PM
I think one significant barrier to recruitment of young people into pastoral ministry is the high cost of seminary. Somehow we need to subsidize these young people so that they don't come into their first appointment with huge debt. This may mean screening candidates earlier in the process.
2. Richard L. Matson wrote on 10/17/2012 5:52:26 PM
Thank you Bob for this timely call to awareness and action. Local churches keep asking for younger pastors, but do not seem to be aware that recruiting them takes place IN the local church. God may be calling these young people, but the community of faith must embrace, encourage, support and sustain them in the process of preparation for active ministry.
3. David Selleck wrote on 10/17/2012 8:32:10 PM
Thanks for the study Bill. I wonder with the way the church has functioned in recent times, what would attract a young person to consider ministry. Most of our churches are filled with folks who are the same age of the pastors and the call to vital congregations is being carried forth with the same older generation. I would love to invite,encourage,mentor a young person, if they were in the church. We definitely have our work cut out for us...
4. Susan K. Flynn wrote on 10/18/2012 9:50:23 AM
I wonder how many of the 64% received their call or were influenced by participation at United Methodist Camps. I have been volunteering at Wesley Woods since 1998. During those years I have seen an ever decreasing emphasis on camping ministry in our conference in terms of financial resources and the encouragement by leadership to have clergy involved in this important ministry. All statistics point to camping ministry being the location for many young people to accept Christ and decide on ministerial careers...yet our West Michigan facilities continue to be neglected by the conference.
5. Billie R. Dalton wrote on 10/18/2012 2:41:18 PM
I remember a line from a musical "O God, thank you that I am not like those Pharisees." No distractions on any other issues will help thid dilemma, Bob. We take responsiblity for our encouraging anyone in their calling and responsibility for nurturing the youth not only in our congregations but in our community to find ministry as a place where God welcomes each person. Then, we finance the entire endeavour. Had a volunteer lay youth worker not seen that God was calling me as a teenager it would have been a long time before I even recognized it. Toodles and maintain that high level of discovery even as a cabinet member on a extension appointment. Shalom mi hermano.
6. Eric Burton-Krieger wrote on 10/19/2012 11:25:55 PM
Bob, I remain grateful for the Cabinet's work and the forward thinking that your comments reflect. There is good news - this past Annual Conference all four commissioned Elders were under the age of 40. In fact, most were under 30! As we think about how to continue to boost these numbers, perhaps inviting our young clergy into conversation is one of the first steps. We know what encouraged us into ministry and what the challenges are. Another step might be to invite our current clergy to think about mentoring as a spiritual practice that more of us might cultivate. Let's get to work on this!
7. Brad Brillhart wrote on 10/25/2012 3:20:58 PM
So what's so bad about our clergy being older? (middle age to older adult) Wisdom comes with age. A lot of individuals get a call to pastoral ministry later in life. Doesn't seem to be a problem to me. In my opinion I don't think we need to be anxious about not having a lot of young clergy.
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