No dearth of pastors now
by Everett J. ThomasPrint Article Email to a Friend
In November 2008, there were 99 openings for pastors in Mennonite Church USA congregations, 51 full-time. But 18 months later there were only 70 positions available with 29 positions being full time. As the number of openings declined, the number of candidates increased on Mennonite Church USA's national register.
In November 2008, 30 candidates were registered. As of May, that number more than doubled to 64, says Lee Lever, director of denominational ministry for Mennonite Church USA.
The trend is similar to what is happening in other Christian denominations.
"After a decade-long clergy shortage in America's pulpits, Christian denominations are now experiencing a clergy glut––with some denominations reporting two ministers for every vacant pulpit," said Greg Warner in a May 17 Religion News Service report. Warner said the sudden turnaround was caused by the bad economy.
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