Although I haven’t been a pastor for 30 year (only a little over 23), I found Thom S. Rainer‘s blog post, “Seven Ways Pastoring Has Changed In 30 Years“, quite interesting and accurate. Little wonder, the pastor drop-out rate is so high!

1. Thirty years ago, most people in the community held the pastor in high esteem.
2. Thirty years ago, most people in the congregation held the pastor in high esteem.
3. Leadership skills are required more today than thirty years ago.
4. Interpersonal skills are required more today than thirty years ago.
5. Outreach was accomplished by getting people to come to church services thirty years ago. That is not so today.
   
6. Thirty years ago, there were very few “nones.”
7. The Internet and social media have made pastoring much more challenging than it was thirty years ago.

Read the entirety of this insightful article HERE.