Faith Communities Today
  • Research & Findings
    • FACT 2020
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • FACT 2015
      • Research Reports 2015
      • Survey Methods 2015
      • Partner Reports 2015
    • FACT 2010
      • Research Reports 2010
      • Overall Findings 2010
      • Survey Methods 2010
      • Partner Reports 2010
    • FACT 2008
      • Research Reports 2008
      • Overall Findings 2008
      • Survey Methods 2008
      • Partner Reports 2008
    • FACT 2005
      • Research Reports 2005
      • Survey Methods 2005
      • Partner Reports 2005
    • FACT 2000
      • Research Reports 2000
      • Survey Methods 2000
      • Partner Reports 2000
  • Publications
    • FACTs on Congregational Programming
    • FACTs on Spiritually Vital Congregations
    • Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
    • FACTs on Finance
    • Vital Congregations
    • Engaging Young Adults
    • Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
    • Facts on Worship
    • Virtually Religious
    • Facts on Growth
    • Insights Into Series
  • About Us
  • Latest News
  • Partners
  • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Faith Community Partners
  • Latest News
  • Contact
Faith Communities Today
  • Research Projects & Findings
    • 2020 Study
      • Overall Findings 2020
      • Partner Reports 2020
    • 2015 Study
      • Research Reports 2015
      • Survey Methods 2015
      • Partner Reports 2015
    • 2010 Study
      • Research Reports 2010
      • Overall Findings 2010
      • Survey Methods 2010
      • Partner Reports 2010
    • 2008 Study
      • Research Reports 2008
      • Overall Findings 2008
      • Survey Methods 2008
      • Partner Reports 2008
    • 2005 Study
      • Research Reports 2005
      • Survey Methods 2005
      • Partner Reports 2005
    • 2000 Study
      • Research Reports 2000
      • Survey Methods 2000
      • Partner Reports 2000
  • Newsletters
  • Publications
    • FACTs on Congregational Programming
    • FACTs on Spiritually Vital Congregations
    • Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
    • FACTs on Finance
    • Vital Congregations
    • Engaging Young Adults
    • Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
    • Facts on Worship
    • Virtually Religious
    • Facts on Growth
    • Insights Into Series
  • Resources

Religious Leaders

 

data from the Fact2000 study

The 41 faith communities represented in FACT have different structures and different names for their designated leaders — Leader's Ministerial Education pastor, priest, rabbi, imam, and reader. But only two percent of congregations are without a designated religious leader, including part time, interim, and volunteer. The chart at the left shows a breakdown of educational achievement for religious leaders.

[Note: The Roman Catholic, Muslim and Bahá’is surveys did not include questions on clergy education.]

The age of leaders ranged from 24 to 87, with an average age of 51.3 years old. Most clergy (89 percent) are paid, but the presence of volunteer leaders (currently 11 percent) will likely increase because it is associated with some of the fastest growing faith traditions (for instance, Muslim and Mormon).

As a whole, clergy with more formal education tend to serve larger congregations with longer tenures.Size of Congregation Increases with Ministerial Education

The patterns of clergy serving congregations –full time, part time, multiple staff, yoked parish — vary greatly between faith groups, locations and congregational membership size.

Denominations and faith groups are constantly challenged to find and educate new religious leadership for their congregations. Aging leadership affects every group, but the challenge is particularly pronounced in some groups.  Indeed, the average religious leader of the Catholic/Orthodox and Historically Black denominational groups is less than a decade away Age of Senior/Solo Leader Varies by Denominational Group from the typical retirement age of 65, while the Evangelical Protestant and World groups’ leaders have 50 percent more time until they reach 65.

Based on this report, religious leadership should be recognized for its significant contribution to the vitality and growth of congregations. Leaders should be applauded for guiding a remarkably complex array of worship, educational, fellowship and outreach activities. They should be commended for their personal and congregational contributions to the spiritual, social and physical welfare of their communities, often beyond their job description.        

  • About Us
  • Faith Community Partners
  • Latest News
  • Contact
© 2022 Faith Communities Today | Hartford Institute for Religion Research | Hartford International University for Religion and Peace | 77 Sherman St, Hartford, CT 06105
SearchPostsLogin
Thursday, 12, Jan
New Report Explores Trends in Congregational Programming
Wednesday, 21, Sep
New Report Explores Spiritually Vital Congregations
Tuesday, 17, May
New Report Explores the Health of American Synagogues
Thursday, 5, May
New Report Explores Key Sources of Concern and Pride Among U.S. Congregations
Thursday, 24, Mar
New Report Offers Insight Into Congregational Economics
Tuesday, 4, Jan
Webinar Recording – Facing the FACTs: What an Interreligious Survey of 15,000 Faith Communities Says About Congregational Health

Welcome back,

Faith Communities Today
    • facebook
  • Research & Findings
    • FACT 2020
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • FACT 2015
      • Research Reports 2015
      • Survey Methods 2015
      • Partner Reports 2015
    • FACT 2010
      • Research Reports 2010
      • Overall Findings 2010
      • Survey Methods 2010
      • Partner Reports 2010
    • FACT 2008
      • Research Reports 2008
      • Overall Findings 2008
      • Survey Methods 2008
      • Partner Reports 2008
    • FACT 2005
      • Research Reports 2005
      • Survey Methods 2005
      • Partner Reports 2005
    • FACT 2000
      • Research Reports 2000
      • Survey Methods 2000
      • Partner Reports 2000
  • Publications
    • FACTs on Congregational Programming
    • FACTs on Spiritually Vital Congregations
    • Congregations’ Largest Sources of Concern and Pride
    • FACTs on Finance
    • Vital Congregations
    • Engaging Young Adults
    • Teaching and Learning in American Congregations
    • Facts on Worship
    • Virtually Religious
    • Facts on Growth
    • Insights Into Series
  • About Us
  • Latest News
  • Partners
  • Newsletters
  • Contact Us
Research & Resources: U.S. Religion During COVID-19
Learn More