Trends in the First Two Decades of the 21st Century and Implications for the Future

Congregational Trends Impacting the Religious Workforce

• Declining Church Attendance
• Fewer New Adherents
• Aging Church Membership

Congregational Trends Become Congregational Challenges

• Increasing Numbers of Smaller Churches among Protestants
• Church Finances and Personnel Spending

Congregational Challenges Lead to Workforce Changes

• Churches with Multiple Clergy
• Part-Time Pastoral Leadership
  • More Churches Served Part Time
  • Stability in Churches Served by Shared Pastors and Retired Pastors
  • Increasing Interest in Bivocational Ministry

• Lay Pastors and Workers
  • Protestant Lay Ministry
  • Roman Catholic Lay Ministers

Workforce Changes Impact Seminary Education

• Changes in Seminary Enrollment Patterns

Changes in Clergy Demographics

• Clergy Gender Trends Across Christian Traditions
• Clergy Race Trends Across Christian Traditions
• Clergy Age Trends Across Christian Traditions

Qualitative Findings: What Challenges Are Congregations Facing Today and How Will They Need to Staff for Ministry in the Future?

Papers:

1. What Clergy Leaders Wish They Had Been Trained to Do
2. Unique Challenges for Churches in the National Capital Area*
3. Post-Pandemic Realities: How Will Churches Staff for Ministry in the Future?*

* Available soon