Motivation to Write

I recently read a article published in the Sojourners Magazine, the July 2022 publication. The article was written by Peter Chin titled "The Great Resignation Goes To Church".

In Peter's article he uses the backdrop of the discontent and fluctuations in the job market in general. Data shows that large numbers of people are leaving the job market or quitting current jobs to start new ones. Even though the work force is at record highs the underling fact is that there is great discontent in peoples lives. Polling data points to a majority that are unhappy and dissatisfied with political parties, government in general, and life as a whole. A majority of individuals state that the county  and world is going in the wrong direction. Peter Chin points out that, whatever is going on, it is effecting pastors as well.

Peter's writes in his article: "A Gallup poll conducted in 2020 discovered that while Americans belonging to a church, synagogue, or mosque had fallen below 50 percent for the first time, the percentages of millennials was a full 30 percentage points lower than those born before 1946" (Sojourners, July 2022).

Peter goes on to say: "...toward the end of 2021, 38 percent of pastors had given real and serious consideration to steeping down from ministry permanently." (Sojourners, July 2022).

Not only is personal discontent having profound effect on the job market, it is reflected in participation in institutional and organized religion. The Great Resignation has reached religious membership and the religious leaders.

Peter offers a conclusion of possible hope in his article: "Perhaps the disruption is an opportunity for the church to shift to a healthier model, one where more people use their God-given gifts to do what a single person was erroneously expected to accomplish alone, like a group of gardeners who tends a garden's health together. Fewer pastors does not necessarily mean fewer churches if more people in church play a greater role in maintaining the health of the community." (Sojourners, July 2022).

I have been wanting to write about this issue for years, but thanks to Peter's article I have finally been motivated to the point of writing and speaking about the "Great Human Dropout" in our culture.

I hope you will join this community to begin a journey together to seek how we can be transformed into a people celebrating in Creation together.

Blessings from Pastor Mick