The landscape of pastoral ministry is changing (for the better). Here’s what’s trending:

Confidence among pastors is rising. Half of pastors (51%) report heightened confidence in their calling compared to when they began their ministry. This is a significant increase from just over a third (35%) feeling this way in 2022.

Job satisfaction is also improving. Two in five pastors (59%) now express being “very satisfied” with their vocation—a 7 percentage point increase from 2022 to 2023.

Fewer pastors are considering quitting. Since March 2022, the proportion of pastors contemplating departure from full-time ministry has decreased from 42 percent to 33 percent.