Thriving Pastors: Healthy Churches:

Pastoral Trends Survey Executive Report

Scratch the skin of a healthy church and underneath you’re likely to find a thriving pastor. Talk to a thriving pastor and you’ll discover s/he works in a high health congregation. The two belong together. The church, to be healthy, needs thriving pastors. And pastors, in order to thrive, depend on healthy churches. Each contributes to the well-being of the other. But what are the factors that help create this picture of health, and what detracts from it?

During 2007, the Ministerial Leadership office of MC Canada’s Christian Formation ministry conducted an extensive survey of pastors in Mennonite Church Canada, going back to 1975. The goal of this research project was to throw light on what makes pastors thrive – to increase our understanding of the dynamics and factors relating to pastoral wellness and retention and those that do not. This document is the Executive Summary of our findings and addresses the implications of the study.

For a copy of the full results, please contact Dave Bergen, Executive Minister, Formation at 866-888-6785, ext. 162 or by email.

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English • Worship Planners • 5 pp

Mennonite Church Canada • Winnipeg, MB • 2008

Subject Headings

• CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIP-PASTORAL ROLE AND IDENTITY
• ECCLESIOLOGY-CHURCH IDENTITY/VISION-SURVEYS/STUDIES
• HOME-GROWN RESOURCES-FROM OUR NATIONAL CHURCH OFFICE-NATIONAL ASSEMBLIES-2008 WINNIPEG-DISCERNMENT SESSIONS
• HOME-GROWN RESOURCES-FROM OUR NATIONAL CHURCH OFFICE-PASTORAL LEADERSHIP