July 2025 Release
At a glance
Pastors Score Lower in Relationships
Pastors average ~67% in relational flourishing, Christians ~85%. Many congregants experience greater friendship/community than their pastors.
Ministry Guilt Strains Pastoral Marriages
Though 76% of pastors call their spouse their best friend, nearly half feel guilt about ministry's impact on their marriage and worry their spouse faces pressure in their behavior.
Pastors Lack Support Systems
Most pastors connect with peers informally, but half don't use professional services like counselors, spiritual advisors, or mentors.
In this final part of the State of the Church series on the well-being of today’s pastors, we take a closer look at the relational foundations that shape pastoral life.
Explore how the unique pressures of ministry impact pastors’ marriages, parenting and support networks—plus, discover five key opportunities for supporting pastors more effectively. As you’ll see, a pastor’s relational health directly influences their ministry effectiveness and the communities they serve.
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