Pastors Across America Forced To Take Second Jobs
A recent study by Lifeway Research, drawing from the National Survey of Religious Leaders, found that nearly half of Evangelical pastors in the U.S. hold a second job outside their church duties. This bivocational trend is much more common among Evangelicals compared to clergy overall, with 47% of Evangelical pastors working additional jobs versus 35% among all clergy. The rise in bivocational pastors since 2001 is mainly seen among white Evangelical Protestants. In contrast, bivocational roles are less frequent among Catholic and Mainline Protestant clergy.
For Catholic and Mainline Protestant ministers, taking on leadership of multiple congregations is a more common way of increasing responsibilities than working secular jobs. Nearly one in five clergy in these groups now serve more than one church, a significant jump since 2001. Evangelical pastors are less likely to lead multiple churches, with only about 9% doing so. Among black Protestant pastors, about one-third balance ministry with outside employment.
The research also shows that many pastors did not start their careers in ministry. About two-thirds of clergy entered pastoral roles after working in other fields, with this number even higher for black Protestant pastors. Many senior pastors began their ministerial journey in supporting roles, such as youth ministers or associate pastors, before taking on leadership.
Regarding education, most clergy members hold college degrees, with a majority having completed graduate studies. Catholic clergy tend to have the highest educational attainment, with almost all holding advanced degrees like the Master of Divinity. Mainline Protestant pastors also have high levels of graduate education, while Evangelical and black Protestant pastors are less likely to have graduate theological degrees, and a significant minority lack a four-year college degree altogether.
The study also highlighted clergy mobility, noting that only about 25% of pastors currently lead the church they originally belonged to. This percentage is higher among black Protestant and Evangelical pastors but much lower among Catholic and Mainline Protestant clergy. These findings provide a snapshot of the diverse paths and educational backgrounds of U.S. pastors today.