The Unfruitful Vine

Evangelical
Pastor Study
Presented to
Na5onal Associa5on of Evangelicals

July 2015
Study Details
•  The study was conducted online through 19 par7cipa7ng
denomina7ons. Each denomina7on was responsible for
sending invita7ons to senior pastors.
•  Only senior pastors were allowed to par7cipate.
•  Ques7onnaire design and analysis was conducted by Grey
MaBer Research & Consul7ng (Phoenix, AZ).
•  A total of 4,249 interviews were completed. Final data was
weighted to represent the rela7ve number of U.S.
congrega7ons in each denomina7on.
2
Respondent Background
3
Gender
As might be expected, the vast majority of senior pastors were men.
Female, 4%
Male, 96%
4
Q39. What is your gender?
Age
The average age was 52.7, with a median of 54. The online methodology undoubtedly
skewed age downward a bit, as about half of all Americans who do not use the
internet are senior adults.
Under 40 14%
For7es 23%
Fi\ies 36%
Six7es 24%
70 or older 4%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
5
Q40. What is your age?
Race/Ethnicity
Almost nine out of ten respondents were Caucasian.
White 88%
La7no 6%
Black 3%
Asian/Pacific Islander 2%
Other 1%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
6
Q42. What is your racial or ethnic background?
Graduate Educa7on
Six out of ten pastors had a seminary or other graduate degree. This was more
common in larger churches, and therefore also among full-7me paid pastors.
All 62%
Full-7me 64%
Other 57%
Size >50 54%
Size 50 - 99 58%
Size 100 - 299 66%
Size 300+ 76%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
7
Q41. Do you hold a seminary or other graduate degree?
Geographic Region
The Midwest was most heavily represented in this study, with rela7vely few coming
from the Northeast.
Northeast 10%
Midwest 37%
South 29%
West 23%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
8
Q43. In what state is your church located?
Community Type
Almost six out of ten respondents were from small towns or rural areas.
Rural area 24%
Small town 34%
Suburb of small city 13%
Small city 11%
Suburb of large city 11%
Large city 8%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
9
Q44. How would you describe the community your church is in?
Length of Service with Current Church
Pastors had been with their current church an average of 9.7 years, with a median of
7.
21+, 13%
<3, 21%
11 to 20, 24%
3 to 5, 20%
6 to 10, 23%
10
Q2. How many years have you been the senior/lead pastor at this church?
Tenure by Church Size
The larger the congrega7on, the higher the average number of years the current
pastor had served there.
300 or more people 12.19
100 - 299 10.58
50 - 99 9.30
Under 50 people 7.85
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14
11
Q2. How many years have you been the senior/lead pastor at this church?
Pastor Posi7on
Only a minority of pastors in the smallest churches had a full-7me paid posi7on, but
almost all pastors in churches of 100 or more had such a posi7on.
All 74% 4% 16% 5%
Size <50 39% 10% 37% 13%
Size 50 -
99 71% 5% 19% 3%
Size 100 -
299 94% 1%
4%
2%
Size 300+ 97% 0%

2%
1%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Full-7me Paid Part-7me paid Bi-voca7onal Unpaid
12
Q3. Which best describes your current status as a pastor?
ABendance
The average church size was 175 people, with a median of 84. One out of every four
churches had fewer than 50 adults and children aBending.
300+, 13%
<50, 26%
200 to 299, 9%
100 to 199,
24%
50 to 99, 29%
Q4. Approximately how many adults and children attend the church during 13
your weekend services?
Confidence with Finances
14
Confidence Shepherding Finances
Pastors were far more likely to be confident shepherding their household’s finances
than managing their church’s finances.
Completely 46%
23%
Mostly 45%
56%
Only 8%
somewhat 17%
Not very 1%
3%
Not at all 0%
1%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Personal Finances Church Finances
Q5/15. How confident are you in your knowledge and abilities when it comes
to shepherding your church’s /household’s financial situation, with everything 15
that entails?
Shepherding Church Finances
Younger pastors and those who were in churches with shaky finances were
considerably less confident than others shepherding their church’s finances.
Age <45 11% 54%
Age 45 -
59 22% 59%
Age 60+ 33% 54%
Church $
solid 26% 58%
Church $
shaky 15% 52%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Completely Confident Mostly Confident
Q5. How confident are you in your knowledge and abilities when it comes to 16
shepherding your church’s financial situation, with everything that entails?
Shepherding Household Finances
The situa7on was similar with household finances: younger pastors, those who had
shaky household finances, and those carrying debt were considerably less confident
than others shepherding their household’s finances.
Age <45 38% 50%
Age 45 - 59 43% 46%
Age 60+ 57% 37%
Own $ solid 54% 43%
Own $ shaky 20% 51%
Have debt 41% 47%
No debt 59% 36%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Completely Confident Mostly Confident
Q15. How confident are you in your knowledge and abilities when it comes to 17
shepherding your household’s financial situation, with everything that entails?
Church Finances
18
Church Income
The average gi\ income for churches was $286,053, but the median was only
$125,000. This works out to about $1,632 of income per aBendee.
<$50k 20%
$50 - 99k 21%
$100 - 199k 25%
$200 - 299k 12%
$300 - 499k 11%
$500k + 13%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
19
Q7. Approximately what was your church’s total gift income for 2014?
Church Financial Situa7on
While only one out of ten churches were on shaky financial ground, just 22% were
very solid financially with few or no concerns.
Very solid, no concerns 22%
Mostly solid, few concerns 48%
Somewhat solid, concerns 21%
Mostly shaky, many concerns 7%
Very shaky, significant concerns 3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
20
Q6. How would you describe your church’s current financial situation?
Church Financial Situa7on
The smaller the church, the greater the chances that it was in a precarious financial
situa7on.
All 22% 48% 21% 9%
Size <50 14% 41% 29% 17%
Size 50 -
99 19% 46% 24% 10%
Size 100 -
299 24% 53% 17% 6%
Size 300+ 35% 51% 12% 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Very Solid Solid Somewhat Solid Mostly/Very Shaky
21
Q6. How would you describe your church’s current financial situation?
Congrega7onal Support
Almost half of all churches get a large propor7on of their financial support from a
small number of people, and without those people the church would be in trouble.
Small # of
Support evenly people provide
shared, 52% most support,
48%
22
Q8. Which of the following best describes your church’s financial support?
A Small Number of Supporters
Having church financial support in the hands of a small number of people was
par7cularly common in smaller congrega7ons and in churches which were on shaky
ground financially.
Size <50 71% 29%
Size 50 -
99 54% 46%
Size 100 -
299 36% 64%
Size 300+ 16% 84%

Church $
solid 36% 64%
Church $
shaky 72% 28%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Small # of Supporters Even Distribu7on
23
Q8. Which of the following best describes your church’s financial support?
Church Financial Culture
24
Posi7ve Financial Culture
Ninety-two percent used at least one posi7ve term to describe their church’s culture
when it comes to discussing church finances. However, a majority would not describe
it as organized, construc7ve, professional, or especially unifying.
Respecpul 66%
Open/transparent 65%
Generous 60%
Organized 47%
Construc7ve 45%
Professional 40%
Unifying 24%
Any posi7ve 92%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Q11. Please click on all the terms you would use to describe your church’s 25
culture when it comes to discussing church finances.
Posi7ve Financial Culture
The average propor7on who used each posi7ve descrip7on was considerably lower
for pastors in smaller churches and churches that were on shaky ground financially.
Size <50 41%

Size 50 -
99 47%
Size 100 -
299 53%
Size 300+ 63%

Church $
solid 55%
Church $
shaky 32%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Nega7ve Financial Culture
Thirty-six percent used at least one nega7ve term to describe their church’s culture
when it comes to discussing church finances, with the most common being
“delegated” and “uncomfortable.”
Delegated 17%
Uncomfortable 14%
Disorganized 7%
Miserly 5%
Lacking transparency 4%
Money as a weapon 3%
Adversarial 3%
Divisive 3%
Disrespecpul 1%
Any nega7ve 36%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Nega7ve Financial Culture
The propor7on who used at least one nega7ve descrip7on did not vary much by
church size, but it was much higher among younger pastors and in churches that were
on shaky ground financially.
Age <45 45%
Age 45 -
59 34%
Age 60+ 30%
Church $
solid 31%
Church $
shaky 47%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Posi7ve Compensa7on Culture
Eighty-five percent used at least one posi7ve term to describe their church’s culture
when it comes to discussing the pastor’s compensa7on. But only one of the seven
posi7ve terms tested had a majority of all pastors selec7ng that term: “respecpul.”
Respecpul 68%
Professional 46%
Generous 45%
Construc7ve 39%
Organized 31%
Unifying 18%
Any posi7ve 85%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Q14. Please click on all the terms you would use to describe your church’s
culture when it comes to discussing your own financial compensation and 29
benefits as the pastor.
Less Posi7ve Culture
Pastors saw the church culture as less posi7ve when it comes to their own
compensa7on, par7cularly in the areas of transparency, generosity, and organiza7on.
Respecpul 66%
68%
50%
Generous 60%
45%
Organized 47%
31%
Construc7ve 45%
39%
Professional 40%
46%
Unifying 24%
18%
Any posi7ve 92%

85%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Church Finances Compensa7on
30
Posi7ve Compensa7on Culture
The average propor7on who used each posi7ve descrip7on was considerably lower
for pastors in smaller churches and churches that were on shaky ground financially,
plus for those who were dissa7sfied with their own compensa7on.
Size <50 36%
Size 50 - 99 40%
Size 100 - 299 46%
Size 300+ 53%
Church $ solid 47%
Church $ shaky 34%
Sa7sfied with $ 50%
Unsa7sfied with $ 31%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Nega7ve Compensa7on Culture
Thirty-three percent used at least one nega7ve term to describe their church’s culture
when it comes to discussing pastoral compensa7on, with the most common being
“uncomfortable.”
Delegated 11%
Uncomfortable 18%
Disorganized 7%
Miserly 5%
Adversarial 2%
Divisive 3%
Disrespecpul 1%
Any nega7ve 33%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Similar Culture
The use of nega7ve terms was very similar between describing the church’s culture in
discussing finances in general and discussing the pastor’s compensa7on.
Delegated 17%
11%
Uncomfortable 14%
18%
Disorganized 7%
7%
Miserly 5%
5%
4%
2%
Adversarial 3%
2%
Divisive 3%
2%
Disrespecpul 1%
1%
Any nega7ve 36%
33%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Church Finances Pastor Compensa7on
33
Nega7ve Compensa7on Culture
The propor7on who used at least one nega7ve descrip7on was much higher among
pastors under age 60, in churches that were on shaky ground financially, and
especially among pastors who were not happy with their compensa7on package.
Age <45 39%
Age 45 - 59 35%
Age 60+ 26%
Church $ solid 30%
Church $
shaky 39%
Sa7sfied with
$ 25%
Unsa7sfied
with $ 45%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Rela7onships
Only 2% of pastors reported a very or somewhat nega7ve rela7onship with the people
in the church who determine the pastor’s compensa7on, and 82% called the
rela7onship very posi7ve.
Nega7ve, 2%
Somewhat
posi7ve, 16%
Very posi7ve,
82%
Q13. What is your relationship with the people in your church who determine 35
your financial compensation?
Rela7onships
Even among pastors who were dissa7sfied with their compensa7on or who were
leading a church with shaky finances, a clear majority reported posi7ve rela7onships
with the people who determine their compensa7on.
Size <50 77%

Size 50 - 99 81%
Size 100 - 299 85%
Size 300+ 90%
Church $ solid 86%
Church $ shaky 75%
Sa7sfied with $ 89%
Unsa7sfied with $ 72%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q13. What is your relationship with the people in your church who determine 36
your financial compensation?
Status of the Household
Finances
37
Household Financial Situa7on
Pastors described their own household’s financial situa7on very similarly to how they
saw their church’s financial situa7on.
Very solid, no concerns 29%

22%
Mostly solid, few concerns 49%

48%
Somewhat solid, concerns 17%

21%
Mostly shaky, many concerns 5%

7%
Very shaky, significant concerns 1%

3%
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
Household Church
Q6/16. How would you describe your church’s/own household’s current 38

financial situation?
Household Financial Situa7on
Feeling shaky about household finances was more common among pastors under age
60, and was strongly correlated with the presence of household debt and being in a
church that has shaky finances.
Age <45 20% 51% 21% 8%
Age 45 - 59 26% 50% 19% 6%
Age 60+ 41% 45% 11% 3%
Church $ solid 35% 49% 13% 3%
Church $
shaky
14% 48% 26% 12%
Have debt 21% 52% 20% 7%
No debt 51% 40% 8% 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Very Solid Solid Somewhat Solid Mostly/Very Shaky
Q16. How would you describe your own household’s current financial 39
situation?
Comparisons with Other Pastors
Only one-third of pastors felt their financial situa7on is fairly typical. Almost half said
they are beBer off than other pastors. Obviously, many of them simply cannot be
right – some pastors appear to have op7mism that is unwarranted.
My situa7on is
much beBer 17%
Somewhat beBer 28%
I'm fairly typical 33%
Somewhat worse 9%
Much worse 2%
No clue 11%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q17. When you think about your household’s financial situation, how do you
think your situation compares to other pastors in similar-sized churches in 40
your area?
Comparisons with Other Pastors
Even among pastors carrying debt, in shaky financial situa7ons, and with high financial
stress, many refused to believe they’re in a worse-than-typical financial situa7on.
All 17% 28% 33% 11% 11%
Solid $ 22% 32% 29% 6% 11%
Shaky $ 2% 15% 44% 28% 11%
Have debt 14% 28% 35% 13% 11%
No debt 27% 30% 26% 6% 12%
High $ stress 5% 18% 44% 23% 10%
Low $ stress 23% 33% 28% 5% 11%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

My Situa7on Is Much BeBer Somewhat BeBer
I'm Typical My Situa7on Is Worse
No Clue
Q17. When you think about your household’s financial situation, how do you
think your situation compares to other pastors in similar-sized churches in 41
your area?
Lack of Savings
Very few pastors could cover an unexpected $10,000 expense and be fine. Under four
out of ten could cover this at all out of personal savings. Two out of ten had no
op7ons – not even debt – for covering this type of expense.
Cover it and be fine 16%
Cover it, but big For context, a recent Federal

impact on savings 22% Reserve survey showed 47% of
Americans could not cover an
emergency expense of just $400
Borrow against without borrowing money or
re7rement 11% selling something. (2014 Survey
of Household Economics and
Decisionmaking)
Debt/credit cards 32%
No way to cover it 19%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q26. If your household suddenly faced an unexpected expense – say 42

$10,000 – how would you most likely handle that expense?
Lack of Savings
The youngest pastors and pastors in the smallest churches were the ones least likely
to have any op7ons for covering an unexpected $10,000 expense.
All 38% 11% 32% 19%
Age <45 27% 7% 38% 28%
Age 45 - 59 35% 12% 36% 19%
Age 60+ 53% 12% 22% 13%
Size <50 29% 11% 29% 31%
Size 50 - 99 33% 9% 35% 23%
Size 100 - 299 41% 11% 35% 13%
Size 300+ 59% 13% 23% 5%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Savings Re7rement Debt No Op7ons
Q26. If your household suddenly faced an unexpected expense – say 43

$10,000 – how would you most likely handle that expense?
Compensa5on Packages
44
Sa7sfac7on with Compensa7on
Only 19% of all pastors were completely sa7sfied with their compensa7on, although
another 42% were mostly sa7sfied. Fi\een percent expressed dissa7sfac7on.
Completely
dissa7sfied, 5%
Mostly
dissa7sfied, 10%
Completely
sa7sfied, 19%
Only somewhat
sa7sfied, 26% Mostly sa7sfied,
42%
Q28. When you take everything into consideration – your experience and
education, the type and amount of work you do, your church’s situation, etc. – 45
how do you feel about your financial compensation package?
Sa7sfac7on with Compensa7on
Sa7sfac7on was clearly lowest among pastors under age 60, those in smaller churches,
and those who were not full-7me paid staff.
All 19% 42% 26% 14%

Age <45 15% 41% 27% 18%
Age 45 - 59 19% 41% 27% 14%
Age 60+ 22% 45% 23% 10%
Size <50 12% 33% 31% 26%
Size 50 - 99 13% 39% 32% 17%
Size 100 - 299 21% 48% 23% 8%
Size 300+ 37% 49% 11% 3%
Full-7me paid 21% 45% 25% 9%
Not FT paid 11% 30% 30% 30%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Completely Mostly Somewhat Dissa7sfied
Q28. When you take everything into consideration – your experience and
education, the type and amount of work you do, your church’s situation, etc. – 46
how do you feel about your financial compensation package?
Could Churches Do BeBer?
Although most pastors were not fully sa7sfied with their compensa7on, only 17% felt
their church could afford beBer compensa7on (although another 19% said their
church could afford more but they don’t want more).
Could afford
much more, 2%
Could afford a
liBle more, 15%
*In the in-depth interviews

conducted prior to this
study, a few pastors said
Could afford they refused raises
because they wanted to
Can't afford more; I don't make sure their church
more, 63% want, 19%* was financially healthy
and had greater stability.
47
Q29. Which of the following is most true of your situation?
Could Churches Do BeBer?
The larger the church, the more likely pastors were to say their church could pay them
more (but also to say they didn’t want it). Most who weren’t full-7me staff realized
their church can’t afford more than what it’s doing.
All 18% 19% 63%
Size <50 12% 9% 80%
Size 50 - 99 20% 12% 69%
Size 100 - 299 20% 25% 55%
Size 300+ 21% 40% 38%
Church $ solid 21% 26% 54%
Church $ 11% 4% 85%
Full-7me paid 19% 22% 59%
Not FT paid 13% 10% 76%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Church Could Afford More Could Afford More; I Don't Want Doing All They Can
48
Q29. Which of the following is most true of your situation?
Addi7onal Benefits
Almost all pastors got benefits of some type, with the most common being a housing
allowance. Only about four out of ten got health insurance and/or a re7rement plan,
match, or pension. Almost all benefits were far less common in smaller churches.
Housing allowance 70%
Health insurance for self 43%
Health insurance for 41%
Pension/re7rement 38%
Con7nuing educa7on 34%
Parsonage 28%
Car (or allowance) 23%
Dental for self 23%
Dental for family 22%
Vision for self 16%
Vision for family 16%
Other 11%
None of these 7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q30. Which of the following do you receive from your church as part of your 49
total compensation and benefits package?
Salaries/Housing for Full-7me Paid Staff
The average combined salary and housing allowance for a full-7me paid senior pastor
was $52,266, with a median of $49,500.
Under $10,000 3%
$10 - 19k 4%
$20 - 29k 10%
$30 - 39k 15%
$40 - 49k 18%
$50 - 59k 15%
$60 - 69k 13%
$70 - 79k 9%
$80 - 89k 5%
$90 - 99k 3%
$100,000 or more 5%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q31. In 2014, what was your salary from your church/the value of your 50
ministerial housing allowance as reported to the IRS?
Salaries/Housing for Non-full-7me Staff
More than a quarter of all non-full-7me pastors were making under $5,000 in
combined salary and housing allowance from their church. The average was $16,330,
with a median of just $14,400.
Under $5,000 28%

$5 - 9k 11%
$10 - 14k 12%
$15 - 19k 12%
$20 - 29k 21%
$30 - 39k 10%
$40,000 or more 7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q31. In 2014, what was your salary from your church/the value of your 51
ministerial housing allowance as reported to the IRS?
Other Benefits for Full-7me Paid Staff
Seven out of ten full-7me pastors got some type of compensa7on beyond housing
and/or salary. The average value was $9,861, with a median of $7,500.
None 29%
Under $10,000 27%
$10 - 19k 28%
$20 - 29k 12%
$30 - 39k 4%
$40,000 or more 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
52
Difference between Q32 and Q31 (total compensation and salary/housing).
Other Benefits for Non-full-7me Staff
Among pastors who didn’t have a full-7me paid posi7on, two-thirds received no
benefits beyond salary and/or housing (if they received those). The average value of
all other benefits was $2,035.
None 67%
Under $5,000 18%
$5 - 9k 8%
$10 - 14k 4%
$15 - 19k 1%
$20,000 or more 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
53
Difference between Q32 and Q31 (total compensation and salary/housing).
Total Package for Full-7me Paid Staff
The average total compensa7on for a full-7me paid senior pastor was $62,145, with a
median of $59,000. Twelve percent were making under $30,000 in total
compensa7on, even as a full-7me job.
Under $10,000 2%
$10 - 19k 3%
$20 - 29k 7%
$30 - 39k 11%
$40 - 49k 13%
$50 - 59k 15%
$60 - 69k 12%
$70 - 79k 12%
$80 - 89k 9%
$90 - 99k 6%
$100,000 or more 11%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q32. In 2014, what was your total compensation from your church, including
all benefits you received (housing allowance, parsonage, medical coverage, 54
pension – everything)?
Total Package for Non-full-7me Staff
The average total compensa7ons for pastors who were not full-7me paid staff was
$18,277, with a median of $15,600. Fi\een percent received not a penny of any type
of compensa7on.
Under $10,000 34%
$10 - 19k 25%
$20 - 29k 21%
$30 - 39k 11%
$40 - 49k 6%
$50,000 or more 4%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q32. In 2014, what was your total compensation from your church, including
all benefits you received (housing allowance, parsonage, medical coverage, 55
pension – everything)?
Other Income Sources
Nine out of ten pastors (both full-7me and part-7me) had income from other sources,
especially a spouse’s job.
Spouse's job 63%

Second job 31%
Social security/pension 21%
Investments 20%
Family help 12%
Government program 5%
Other 10%
None of these 10%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q33. What other sources of income or savings does your household have, if 56
any?
Other Income Sources
Three out of four who weren’t full-7me paid staff held a second job. Other income
sources didn’t vary much by full-7me or other types of pastor jobs.
Spouse's job 64%

61%
Second job 16%

73%
Social security/pension 24%

20%
Investments 21%
17%
Family help 13%

11%
Government program 4%
6%
Other 10%
9%
None of these 13%

2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Full-7me Part-7me
Q33. What other sources of income or savings does your household have, if 57
any?
Total Household Income
For the average pastor, 63% of all household income came from their church in some
manner. Just 21% of full-7me pastors and 2% of all others said all of their income
comes from their church. The average projected total annual household income was
$81,041.
None of it 1%
16%
1 - 19% 1%
22%
20 - 39% 6%
33%
40 - 59% 16%
13%
60 - 79% 21%
11%
80 - 99% 34%
3%
All of it 21%
2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Full-7me Part-7me
Q34. Approximately what proportion of your household’s total income in 2014
came from your church, and what proportion from all other non-church 58
sources?
Total Household Income
For the average pastor’s household, 63% of household income came from the church
in some form, while 37% came from all other sources.
All 63% 37%
Size <50 38% 62%
Size 50 - 99 61% 39%
Size 100 - 299 76% 24%
Size 300+ 85% 15%
Full-7me paid 75% 25%
Not FT paid 28% 72%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Church All Other Sources
Q34. Approximately what proportion of your household’s total income in 2014

came from your church, and what proportion from all other non-church 59
sources?
Savings
60
Re7rement Savings
One out of five pastors had nothing at all saved for re7rement. The average amount
saved was $98,287, but this was skewed by a few who had huge amounts saved; more
realis7c was the median, which was $30,000.
Nothing 21%
Under $10,000 12%
$10 - 49k 25%
$50 - 99k 14%
$100 - 199k 13%
$200,000 or more 15%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q35. Approximately how much do you have saved for retirement (including 61
any IRAs, 403(b)s, 401(k)s, pension funds, or other retirement savings)?
Median Re7rement Savings
Non-Caucasian pastors typically had almost nothing saved for re7rement. Savings
were par7cularly low among non-full-7me pastors, young people, and those in small
churches. Most worrying was that the oldest pastors had a median of $60,000 saved.
All $30,000
Age <45 $10,000
Age 45 - 59 $40,000
Age 60+ $60,000
White $35,000
Non-White $1,200
Full-7me paid $40,000
Not FT paid $15,000
Size <50 $12,000
Size 50 - 99 $20,000
Size 100 - 299 $45,000
Size 300+ $100,000
$0 $20,000 $40,000 $60,000 $80,000 $100,000 $120,000
Median Re7rement Savings
Even those who said their personal finances are solid had only a median of $40,000
saved for re7rement. One of the greatest differences in the amount saved was the
presence or lack of debt.
All $30,000
Church $ solid $40,000
Church $ shaky $17,000
Personal $ solid $40,000
Personal $ shaky $9,000
Sa7sfied w/$ $50,000
Not sa7sfied $15,000
Have debt $20,000
No debt $81,000
High $ stress $14,000
Low $ stress $45,000
$0 $10,000 $20,000 $30,000 $40,000 $50,000 $60,000 $70,000 $80,000 $90,000
Social Security
Eight out of ten respondents were contribu7ng to Social Security, with no real
difference by age. The group most likely to have opted out was pastors in the larger
churches.
All 81% 19%
Size <50 86% 14%
Size 50 - 99 83% 17%
Size 100 - 299 80% 20%
Size 300+ 70% 30%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Contribute Opted Out
64
Q36. Do you contribute to Social Security, or have you opted out?
Personal Savings
Three out of ten pastors had no personal savings at all. The average amount saved
was $29,696, but this was skewed by a few who had substan7al savings; more
representa7ve was the median, which was $3,800.
Nothing 29%
Under $5,000 22%
$5 - 19k 24%
$20 - 49k 12%
$50,000 or more 12%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q37. Approximately how much do you have saved outside of retirement
(including any emergency funds, investments, stocks, mutual funds, or other 65
savings, but not the value of your home)?
Median Personal Savings
Over half of all non-Caucasian pastors had no savings. Savings were par7cularly low
among non-full-7me pastors, young people, and those in small churches. Even those
in the largest churches had a median of only $15,000 in non-re7rement savings.
All $3,800
Age <45 $2,000
Age 45 - 59 $3,000
Age 60+ $10,000
White $5,000
Non-White $0
Full-7me paid $5,000
Not FT paid $1,000
Size <50 $1,000
Size 50 - 99 $2,500
Size 100 - 299 $5,000
Size 300+ $15,000
$0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 $14,000 $16,000 $18,000 $20,000

Median Personal Savings
As with re7rement savings, the greatest predictor of lack of personal savings was
presence of debt. Even among pastors who said their household finances were solid,
the median amount of non-re7rement savings was only $6,000
All $3,800
Church $ solid $5,000
Church $ shaky $1,200
Personal $ solid $6,000
Personal $ shaky $0
Sa7sfied w/$ $6,000
Not sa7sfied $1,000
Have debt $2,000
No debt $17,000
High $ stress $400
Low $ stress $6,500
$0 $2,000 $4,000 $6,000 $8,000 $10,000 $12,000 $14,000 $16,000 $18,000 $20,000

Debt
68
Student Loan Debt
Seven out of ten pastors had no student loan debt. Among those who had any, the
average amount was $36,039, and the median was $25,374.
Nothing 69%
Under $5,000 3%
$5 - 19k 10%
$20 - 49k 11%
$50,000 or more 8%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q38a. Approximately how much student loan debt does your household 69
carry?
Student Loan Debt
Not surprisingly, younger pastors were far more likely to have student loan debt, as
were pastors with shaky personal finances and/or a lot of financial stress. This debt
isn’t all seminary debt, as pastors with no seminary degree o\en had debt.
All 31%
Age <45 52%
Age 45 - 59 31%
Age 60+ 13%
Grad degree 33%
No grad degree 27%
Personal $ solid 26%
Personal $ shaky 49%
High $ stress 45%
Low $ stress 25%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q38a. Approximately how much student loan debt does your household 70
carry?
Medical Debt
Three out of four pastors had no medical debt. Among those who had any, the
Nothing 77%
Under $5,000 14%
$5 - 19k 8%
$20,000 or more 2%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
71
Q38b. Approximately how much medical debt does your household carry?
Medical Debt
Although medical expenses o\en increase with age, older pastors were the least likely
to have medical debt. Among those with high financial stress and/or shaky personal
finances, 40% were carrying medical debt.
All 23%
Age <45 25%
Age 45 - 59 26%
Age 60+ 16%
High $ stress 40%
Low $ stress 16%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
72
Q38b. Approximately how much medical debt does your household carry?
Other Non-mortgage Loan Debt
Two-thirds of pastors carried some other type of debt. Among those who did, the
Nothing 33%
Under $5,000 11%
$5 - 19k 27%
$20 - 49k 21%
$50,000 or more 9%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q38c. Approximately how much other non-mortgage debt does your 73

household carry?
Other Non-mortgage Debt
Even among people with low financial stress and solid personal finances, the vast
majority were carrying some other type of debt.
All 67%
Age <45 71%
Age 45 - 59 69%
Age 60+ 60%
High $ stress 82%
Low $ stress 60%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q38c. Approximately how much other non-mortgage debt does your 74

household carry?
Total Debt
Just one out of four pastors carried no debt at all (excluding any mortgage debt). On
the other hand, one out of five was in debt to the tune of $50,000 or more. The
average among all pastors was $31,593, with a median of $14,000.
Nothing 26%
Under $5,000 9%
$5 - 19k 22%
$20 - 49k 25%
$50,000 or more 19%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
75
Q38. Compilation
Total Debt
The vast majority of all types of pastors were carrying some type of non-mortgage
debt, with those who had shaky finances and/or high stress par7cularly likely to be in
debt.
All 74%
Age <45 83%
Age 45 - 59 76%
Age 60+ 64%
White 73%
Other 82%
High $ stress 90%
Low $ stress 67%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
76
Q38. Compilation
Financial Stress
77
Financial Stress
Nine out of ten pastors felt at least a liBle financial stress, but only 13% said the stress
is considerable or tremendous.
Tremendous stress 3%
Considerable stress 10%
Quite a bit 18%
Only some stress 34%
Not very much 25%
None at all 10%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q18. How much stress, worry, or concern does your household’s financial 78
situation cause you?
Financial Stress
Younger pastors tended to feel more financial stress, and it’s no surprise that carrying
debt and/or having shaky personal finances substan7ally increased the presence of
financial stress.
Age <45 18% 20% 57% 5%
Age 45 - 59 15% 19% 58% 9%
Age 60+ 7% 14% 64% 15%
Solid $ 5% 12% 70% 12%
Shaky $ 40% 36% 23% 0%
Have debt 16% 21% 57% 5%
No debt 6% 7% 66% 22%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Tremendous/Considerable Quite a Bit
Some/Not Much None
Q18. How much stress, worry, or concern does your household’s financial 79
situation cause you?
The Biggest Stress Factors
By far the four biggest financial stressors were saving: for re7rement especially, but
also for emergencies, big purchases, and college.
Re7rement savings 64% 28% 8%
Emergency savings 43% 41% 17%
Saving for big

purchases 42% 41% 17%
College for my kids 34% 20% 45%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Major Issue Minor Issue Not Really an Issue
80
Q19. What issues cause you financial stress, worry, or concern?
Significant Stress Factors
A variety of other factors were stressing out a lot of pastors, from medical bills to
student loans to an uncertain future at their current church.
Medical bills 28% 32% 41%

Medical insurance 27% 20% 53%
Insufficient compensa7on 27% 32% 41%
Paying off student loans 24% 11% 65%
Costly loca7on 23% 27% 50%
Uncertain church future 23% 26% 51%
Housing costs 22% 27% 52%
Just making ends meet 22% 31% 48%
No $ for luxuries 21% 40% 39%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

81
Lesser Stress Factors
Four factors caused less stress than the others, but they s7ll caused at least minor
stress for one out of every two to four pastors. In addi7on, 22% men7oned some
factor other than the ones listed in the ques7onnaire.
Helping adult kids 18% 27% 55%
Paying off car loan 17% 26% 58%
Any other 17% 5% 78%
Paycheck varies 15% 9% 76%
Elderly parents 14% 16% 69%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

82
Leaving the Ministry
Over a third of all pastors have considered leaving the ministry because of financial
stress or difficul7es; only 48% strongly disagreed with this statement.
Agree
strongly,
14%
Disagree Agree
strongly, 48% somewhat, 22%
Disagree
somewhat,
16%
Q27a. Agree/disagree: “There have been times I have considered leaving the 83
ministry because of financial stress or difficulties.”
Leaving the Ministry
Younger pastors are by far the ones most likely to have considered leaving the
ministry. Even in churches or households where the finances were described as solid,
three out of ten have considered leaving for financial reasons.
All 14% 22% 16% 48%
Age <45 21% 23% 15% 41%
Age 45 - 59 14% 24% 18% 44%
Age 60+ 9% 17% 14% 61%
Church $ solid 10% 20% 17% 54%
Church $ shaky 24% 25% 15% 36%
Personal $ solid 10% 20% 16% 55%
Personal $ shaky 27% 29% 18% 26%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Agree Strongly Agree Somewhat Disagree Somewhat Disagree Strongly
Q27a. Agree/disagree: “There have been times I have considered leaving the 84
ministry because of financial stress or difficulties.”
Leaving Their Church
One-third of all pastors have considered leaving their current posi7on because of
financial stress or difficul7es; only 51% strongly disagreed with this statement.
Agree
strongly,
13%
Agree
Disagree somewhat,
strongly, 51% 20%
Disagree
somewhat,
16%
Q27b. Agree/disagree: “There have been times I have considered leaving my 85

current pastorate because of financial stress or difficulties.”
Leaving Their Church
Pastors under age 60 are by far the ones most likely to have considered leaving their
church. Even in churches or households where the finances were described as solid,
one out of four has considered leaving for financial reasons.
All 13% 20% 16% 51%
Age <45 18% 21% 15% 46%
Age 45 - 59 14% 21% 19% 47%
Age 60+ 8% 16% 14% 63%
Church $ solid 8% 17% 17% 58%
Church $ shaky 26% 25% 15% 35%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q27b. Agree/disagree: “There have been times I have considered leaving my 86

current pastorate because of financial stress or difficulties.”
Knowing Those Who’ve Le\
Most pastors knew someone who had le\ the ministry because of financial difficul7es
(maybe this was one reason so many considered themselves beBer off than the typical
pastor).
Disagree
strongly, 10%
Disagree
somewhat, 14%
Agree strongly,
38%
Agree
somewhat, 38%
Q27c. Agree/disagree: “I know other pastors who have left the ministry 87
because of financial stress or difficulties.”
Knowing Those Who’ve Le\
Knowing someone who had le\ the ministry was fairly universal, without major
differences by financial status, church size, age, or other factors.
All 38% 38% 14% 10%
Age <45 43% 35% 14% 8%
Age 45 - 59 38% 38% 15% 9%
Age 60+ 35% 42% 10% 13%
Church $ solid 37% 39% 14% 10%
Church $ shaky 41% 36% 14% 9%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q27c. Agree/disagree: “I know other pastors who have left the ministry 88
because of financial stress or difficulties.”
Opportuni7es to Leave
Four out of ten pastors reported having opportuni7es or offers for another job that
would have offered beBer compensa7on.
Agree strongly,
Disagree 23%
strongly, 41%
Agree
somewhat, 20%
Disagree
somewhat, 17%
Q27d. Agree/disagree: “I have had offers or opportunities to leave the

ministry and take another job that would have offered better financial 89
compensation.”
Opportuni7es to Leave
Younger pastors and those with lower compensa7on levels were the most likely to say
they have had opportuni7es to leave the ministry for beBer-paying jobs.
All 23% 20% 17% 41%
Age <45 29% 18% 17% 36%
Age 45 - 59 23% 21% 18% 39%
Age 60+ 17% 20% 16% 48%
Comp <$30k 28% 21% 13% 38%
Comp $30-69k 23% 22% 18% 37%
Comp $70k+ 15% 16% 19% 49%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q27d. Agree/disagree: “I have had offers or opportunities to leave the

ministry and take another job that would have offered better financial 90
compensation.”
Confidence in the Future
Only 18% of all pastors have strong confidence that they’ll be okay financially ten
years from now, although another 41% did have confidence. On the other hand, only
11% had very liBle or no confidence in their financial future.
None, 2%
Very
liBle, Strong
confidence,
9%
18%
Only some, 31%

Confidence, 41%
Q24. If you think about your household financial situation ten years from now,
what level of confidence do you have that things will be okay financially for 91
you?
Confidence in the Future
Pastors in the largest churches had more confidence in their financial future, but in
categories below 300 people, the size of the church is didn’t make a difference.
All 18% 41% 31% 11%
Size <50 18% 36% 30% 16%
Size 50 - 99 15% 40% 34% 11%
Size 100 - 299 16% 41% 33% 9%
Size 300+ 26% 50% 20% 5%
Church $ solid 20% 44% 29% 7%
Church $ shaky 12% 33% 36% 20%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Strong Confidence Confidence Only Some LiBle/None
Q24. If you think about your household financial situation ten years from now,
what level of confidence do you have that things will be okay financially for 92
you?
Sources of Help
93
Financial Training
Only 43% of pastors have had formal financial training (classes in college or seminary).
Even among those with a seminary/graduate degree, just 19% said they had financial
classes in seminary. Most are self-taught through books, seminars, or professionals.
Read books 69%

Chris7an seminars 63%
Financial pros 42%
College classes 38%
Secular seminars 28%
Seminary classes 14%
Business experience 2%
None of these 7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q21. Which of the following types of training have you personally had in the 94
area of financial matters?
Confiding in Others
Over a third of pastors said they have no one outside their household in whom they
can confide about the things that stress them financially (although not all of them
wanted to have someone).
No one 37%
Family member 31%
Other denom. pastor 20%
Financial pro 18%
Friend 16%
Lay leader 15%
Other local pastor 12%
Denom. leader 8%
Church staff 5%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Q20. Who outside of your immediate household do you talk to or confide in 95

about the things that stress or concern you financially?
Confiding in Others
The pastors most likely to say they have no one but would value having a confidant
were under age 60. Almost four out of ten with shaky personal finances and higher
levels of stress have no one to talk to but would value having someone.
All 22% 16%
Age <45 22% 8%
Age 45 - 59 25% 15%
Age 60+ 17% 24%
Personal $ solid 16% 18%
Personal $ shaky 39% 7%
High $ stress 14% 20%
Low $ stress 38% 7%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Want Someone Don't Want Someone
Q20. Who outside of your immediate household do you talk to or confide in 96

about the things that stress or concern you financially?
Spousal Agreement
Fortunately, most married pastors said they and their spouse tend to be in agreement
on managing their household finances, with only 2% repor7ng substan7al
disagreement with their spouse on this subject.
Almost total
52%
agreement
Largely in
41%
agreement
Only somewhat in
5%
agreement
Disagree quite a bit 2%
Almost total
0%
disagreement
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Q25. To what extent are you and your spouse in agreement when it comes to
managing your household’s personal finances (spending, saving, debt 97
management, etc.)?
Denomina7onal Resources
Many pastors had no idea what their denomina7on offers in financial resources,
especially for their personal situa7on. Lack of awareness did not vary according to
church or personal financial situa7on, level of financial stress, or presence of debt.
Many 5%
Resources 9%
Some 24%
40%
Very few 23%

26%
None 12%
8%
I'm not sure 37%

17%
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Personal Finances Church Finances
Q9/22. What does your denomination offer in terms of help, resources,
training, or advice on financial matters for your church/for pastors regarding 98
their own personal/household financial issues?

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Evangelical

Rural area 24%

Small town 34%

Suburb of small city 13%

Small city 11%

Suburb of large city 11%

300 or more people 12.19

100 - 299 10.58

Under 50 people 7.85

All 74% 4% 16% 5%

Size <50 39% 10% 37% 13%

Size 300+ 97% 0%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Age <45 11% 54%

Age 60+ 33% 54%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Age 45 - 59 43% 46%

Age 60+ 57% 37%

Own $ solid 54% 43%

Own $ shaky 20% 51%

Have debt 41% 47%

No debt 59% 36%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

$50 - 99k 21%

$100 - 199k 25%

$200 - 299k 12%

$300 - 499k 11%

Very solid, no concerns 22%

Mostly solid, few concerns 48%

Somewhat solid, concerns 21%

Mostly shaky, many concerns 7%

Very shaky, signiﬁcant concerns 3%

All 22% 48% 21% 9%

Size <50 14% 41% 29% 17%

Size 300+ 35% 51% 12% 2%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Size 300+ 16% 84%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Size <50 41%

Size 300+ 63%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Age 60+ 30%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Any posi7ve 92%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Size <50 77%

Very solid, no concerns 29%

Mostly solid, few concerns 49%

Somewhat solid, concerns 17%

Mostly shaky, many concerns 5%

Very shaky, signiﬁcant concerns 1%

Q6/16. How would you describe your church’s/own household’s current 38

Somewhat beBer 28%

I'm fairly typical 33%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

All 17% 28% 33% 11% 11%

Solid $ 22% 32% 29% 6% 11%

Shaky $ 2% 15% 44% 28% 11%

Have debt 14% 28% 35% 13% 11%

No debt 27% 30% 26% 6% 12%

High $ stress 5% 18% 44% 23% 10%

Low $ stress 23% 33% 28% 5% 11%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%