Podcast Episode #514
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More people often means more problems. And that is the case with megachurches when it comes to finding pastors. Today we discuss some of the reasons for this struggle.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- Many people have negative stereotypes of megachurches, and many are simply unfair and wrong.
- The concept of ladder climbing and quickly bouncing from church to church is foreign to many Millennial pastors.
- Many churches overbuilt their worship space in the past and are now remodeling that to create larger foyers and more intimate worship gatherings.
- When pastor search committees try to find pastors the way they always have done so, they will struggle with the process because churches and pastors have changed in the past 20-30 years.
The six reasons megachurches are struggling to find pastors are:
- These churches have similar profiles of the type of pastor they want.
- The number of Millennials who are in vocational ministry and meet the profile is small.
- Fewer Millennials are excited about leading a megachurch.
- Millennials are concerned about the large worship centers many megachurches have.
- Many search committees (or their equivalent) try to look for a pastor in the old traditional path.
- Many megachurches did not have a succession plan.
Resources mentioned in today’s podcast
Rainer on Leadership is a member of the LifeWay Leadership Podcast Network
Episode Sponsors
Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped thousands of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church.
For more information, visit WeStaffTheChurch.com.
Today’s episode is sponsored by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Be sure to check out Midwestern’s Doctorate of Ministry Degree. The D.Min. is an advanced degree preparing students for leadership in local churches and denominational service. It is also fully attainable in hybrid format which means you don’t have to move to pursue the degree.
Find out more at mbts.edu/dmin.
Feedback
If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of Scrappy Church.
Great stuff as always!
One question: why is my generation of pastor automatically overlooked?
I am 41 so not a Millennial, but there are so many of my generation that are very well equipped to pastor the megachurch, more so that most any Millennial (and I say that with no offense to the Millennial).
We are truly the “Forgotten Generation.”
I would ask that you might consider looking into this for all of us in this generation. We need some encouragement in this area.
Thanks again for all you do.
Josh –
I addressed that omission in the podcast.
My point wasn’t criticism for its own sake. We Gen X’ers are in desperate need of encouragement, especially from the Boomers. Many of us we neglected by our spiritual fathers, who later lavish praise on millennials. I apologize for any disrespect.
Yes, absolutely.
But I think there are deeper issues here. I think that many churches have overextended themselves with huge buildings and large staffs, and it takes so much money to make these big ships work. All of this in the face of a downward trend away from huge church plants and more of a focus on small groups and service focused churches.
I think that churches obviously want to get younger in their congregation, but younger congregants are not attracted to a young face as much as they are hungry for great teaching from the pulpit that is life transforming and applicable to real life.
The drive to “reach young people” with the focus on a Millennial pastor is not a very healthy approach as you have alluded to.
I just wish more of my generation would get a shot at these leadership posts. I know so many great shepherds who are pastoring medium to larger churches that would make great leaders and influencers. It is just a shame that they may be past over just because of their age.
Again, Thank you for you faithfulness to educate us out here in the trenches.
I am a 47 year old pastor who has a Bachelors and Masters degree. I been looking for a church for a year and a half now with no luck at all. I am starting to lose hope in finding a church to pastor at all. I have received a mound of rejection letters from churches of all sizes and after reading some of their reasons for rejection reasons, I can fully understand why some of the mega churches are having a hard time. The people are picking their pastor instead of God choosing the man of God he wills to lead the congregation.
I am broken hearted reading your comment. Don’t give up and preserve. Church politics/staffing can be a very cruel world. Focus on making you a better you in the meantime, whatever that means for you (finances in order, more time w/ family, physical health, repairing broken relationships, organizing/cleaning out closets/basement, etc….) Get your life in order so when you get the call you are ready. Hang in there!