Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry (Pulpit and Pew) [Paperback]

Dean R. Hoge (Author), Jacqueline E. Wenger (Author)

Book Description

Series: Pulpit and Pew | Publication Date: April 2005

Whether they leave out of preference for another ministry or due to serious conflict, pastors who relinquish parish ministry face misunderstanding and even hostility. Pastors in Transition brings clarity to this little-examined aspect of the pastorate by examining the main reasons why pastors in five Protestant denominations have left parish ministry. The fruit of careful sociological research, Pastors in Transition presents the findings of the largest-ever study of recently ended ministries. More than 900 ex-ministers, representing the Assemblies of God, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and the United Methodist Church, were surveyed or interviewed. Besides gathering facts and figures, the book contains personal stories, forthright opinions, and concrete recommendations from former pastors for strengthening parish ministry in the future.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dean R. Hoge is professor of sociology at the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. Jacqueline E. Wenger is a doctoral candidate and research associate at the Catholic University of America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company (April 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802829082
• ISBN-13: 978-0802829085
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,134,954 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Helpful Information, January 9, 2007

By 

C. Muro (Windsor, CT USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry (Pulpit and Pew) (Paperback)

As a pastor in transition, I found this book somewhat helpful. It was good to hear other people's stories. The main thing I did not like about this book, however, is that it was pretty boring. While statistical information can be helpful, I found the analysis pretty dry. Personally, I learn a lot from anecdotes (and also find them more interesting to read!), so if you're looking for a good read, this is not it. But if you are a pastor in transition, it may be helpful for you. Also, the 5 denominations the authors looked at were: Assemblies of God, ELCA, Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Presbyterian Church USA, and UMC. I am not in one of those 5 - I am UCC - so some of the information was relevant, but not all of it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Pastoral Perspective, February 19, 2009

By 

James Watters Pastors Network (Pewaukee, WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry (Pulpit and Pew) (Paperback)

Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry-is an excellent and accurate assessment of the prevailing pressures exerting itself on pastors in churches of all sizes and denominations here in the US. I work for a ministry that specializes in ministering to pastors and I have found that the data and narrative set forward in this book, accurately reflects what we hear first hand from the pastors who come through our ministry.

If you are looking for a book that was written with great care so as to reflect accurately the current state of pastors here in the United States, this is a book that you will want to read.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not for Most Evangelicals, March 26, 2007

By 

Edward J. Vasicek "Author, pastor, columnist" (Kokomo, IN USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pastors in Transition: Why Clergy Leave Local Church Ministry (Pulpit and Pew) (Paperback)

I am not too crazy about this book. Part of it might be that I am not the target readership. I thought I was when I ordered it.

Since the book was published by Eerdmans, I thought it would focus on the pastorate from a more conservative, evangelical angle. This book might be somewhat helpful if you are ELCA, PCUSA United Methodist (denominations not dominated by evangelicals ), or Assemblies of God or LCMS (the only two evangelical denomonimation given any significant attention, but denominatons not really in evangelicalism's theological center). If you are GARB, Evangelical Free, Baptist General Conference, CMA, nondenominational (which is what I am), or even SBC, it becomes more difficult to connect to this book. Even though the authors occasionally mention the SBC and more so, the Assemblies of God, it seems to me that they are not comfortable outside the mainlines....almost as though they tacked on these groups becasue they felt they must. I wonder if they really understand (or countenance) the more conservative groups or even know what to do with non-denominationals.

Although we are all human beings, I think this book is probably more relevant to pastors in these denominaitons and will probably be enjoyed by more seminary professors and denominational leaders than by pastors. A much, much better read for evangelical pastors who want clear cut direction is H.B. London's, "Pastors At Risk."