An "Easy" Solution to the Pastor Shortage

Over the years I've read countless articles about the upcoming pastor shortage. According to research, in order to replace retiring baby boomer pastors, North American churches will need to produce thousands of new pastors in the coming years (in Canada, an estimated 625 per year for the next 12 years according to this article).

Where will these pastors come from, especially considering enrollment in Bible colleges and theological schools is declining and less young people are being encouraged to pursue a life in vocational ministry?

What amazes me every time I read these stories sounding the alarm of the upcoming pastoral crisis is no one mentions one of the most obvious solutions: empowering and encouraging more women pastors!

The shortage statistics particularly have to do with "lead" or "Sr." pastor roles, often solo pastorates. This is an area where women pastors are woefully underrepresented.

For example, in my own tradition (PAOC/AG), as of 2021, Assemblies of God women in the United States make up 27 percent of credential holders and 19 percent of ordained ministers. However, less than half a percent (0.49) of churches are led by a female pastor! (see The Pentecostal Gender Paradox Introduction Chapter (free preview) for more, and citation on page 10).

Thus, in attempting to solve this problem, most are overlooking half the population as a potential solution.

I say this is an "easy" solution in scare quotes, because in fact the work of overcoming male dominance and prejudice in this area is actually very hard work that takes effort and intentionality. I discuss some of the steps that can be taken here. 

This solution will be especially hard in more conservative denominations that currently don't allow women in lead roles.

So if we truly care about the future of our churches, we'll do the hard work of identifying the easy solution to the shortage problem.

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