The Quiet Collapse of the Church Staff Pipeline

In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook subtle but substantial changes. However, for those of us in church leadership roles, understanding these changes is of utmost importance. One “silent alarm” that church leaders can no longer ignore is the quiet collapse of the church staff pipeline.

Cracks Beneath Us

Despite the tranquillity that might appear on the surface, the church staff pipeline shows signs of collapse. By "pipeline", we refer to the flow of new pastors, youth workers, worship leaders, executive pastors and other individuals who have typically felt the call to full-time ministry work. Unfortunately, this constant stream of leaders stepping forward to serve is now slowing down dramatically.

Warning Signs of a Leadership Crisis

Churches still attempt to fill vacancies expecting a surplus of qualified applicants within 30 days. However, those 100 resumes churches used to receive are dwindling to 50, then 40, then 20, until finally, they encounter trouble finding even one person who fulfils their expectations. This surprising shift isn’t merely a hiring slowdown - it is a long-term leadership crisis in slow motion, affecting churches across the nation.

Redefining Adjustments

The number of qualified, experienced candidates in the church hiring pool is decreasing across the board, which means it's time for churches to adapt their expectations and processes. Mid-career leaders are vanishing, younger ones are hesitant to take up the mantle, and many potential pastors have left the pipeline entirely due to burnout, disillusionment, or unwillingness to follow old ways of operating.

Churches must seize this as an opportunity rather than a setback, taking bold steps to expand their definition of fit, investing in internal pipelines to grow their talent, and creating healthier environments that attract and retain staff.

Time for Action

In the face of this challenge, churches need not only information but also actionable steps to begin rebuilding a robust and dynamic staff pipeline. Over the next nine episodes on the Healthy Church Staff Podcast, we will explore the broken aspects of the pipeline, discuss the reasons behind its current state, and share how your church can start rebuilding.

Take the first step today by asking your hiring team, "What if our hiring challenge isn't just about timing but about the pipeline itself?" The alarm is softly sounding...it's not yet loud, but it's certainly urgent.