Pastoral health is crucial to congregational health. And while pastors demonstrate resilience in many areas, concerning gaps remain as they navigate the complexities of ministry today.

The pastoral calling demands a balance of spiritual leadership, church management, relational acumen and personal wholeness, among a host of other responsibilities. So, how are pastors doing?

For the months of June and July, the State of the Church releases produced in partnership with Gloo will focus on answering this question and getting to the heart of pastoral flourishing.

This month, we look at the overall well-being of pastors and perceptions surrounding their role. Next month, we’ll zoom in to focus on the strength of the relationships that form the foundation of a pastor’s life—marriage, family life and friendships.

As summer approaches—traditionally a season when many church leaders consider sabbaticals and extended rest—understanding pastoral flourishing becomes essential for both church leaders and those they serve.

If you are in a pastor’s congregation, your pastor likely carries more than you see—and often more than they’ll ever say. As your leader potentially steps away for much-needed rest, consider how your church might help address the specific gaps identified in this research.

If you’re a pastor, this two-part series offers validation that your challenges are real and shared by many like you, and also provides data-driven insights into which areas of your own flourishing might deserve more intentional focus.

Understanding the Dimensions of Flourishing

In this two-part series, when we talk about “flourishing,” we're referring to how individuals score on the essential components of a flourishing life: relationships, vocation, finances, health and faith. These areas are each scored on a scale of 0 to 100. In previous research, these are called Barna’s five dimensions of flourishing.

Based on work from the Harvard Center for Human Flourishing and in collaboration with Gloo, we’ve expanded our human flourishing framework to now look at seven dimensions of whole-person well-being: faith, relationships, purpose, health (mental and physical), finances, character and contentment. »Explore the seven dimensions of human flourishing you’ll see in future State of the Church research.

This content is part of Barna's State of the Church initiative, produced in partnership with Gloo.

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Pastoral Flourishing at a Glance

All things considered, today’s pastors are faring well. Based on Barna’s dimensions of flourishing, their combined flourishing score exceeds the U.S. adult population (76 vs. 71, when scored out of 100). This overall score, however, masks a more complex reality.

Looking at specific categories, we see that pastors’ flourishing scores fluctuate, sometimes significantly higher—or lower—than the flourishing of the general population and the practicing Christians they shepherd.

The Bright Spots

Faith: As one might expect, pastors report being strong in their faith. This type of flourishing—based on two items measuring the priority one places on following Jesus and the Bible—outpaces the general population by a wide margin (28 points). Pastors’ faith score is on par, however, with practicing Christians (91 vs. 92).

Finances: Pastors also demonstrate surprising strength in financial flourishing. Despite modest incomes (the national average salary for senior and solo pastors is around $76,782), pastors outscore U.S. adults by 8 points in this dimension. Read more about financial flourishing among pastors in the fourth article below.

Vocation: Additionally, pastors score higher than average in vocational flourishing (82), reflecting a strong sense of purpose and meaning in their work.

Room for Improvement

Younger pastors: Pastors ages 50+ score notably higher in overall flourishing (78) compared to their younger counterparts (74), with particularly pronounced differences in vocational satisfaction and well-being. Similarly, pastors of color report higher levels of faith flourishing and overall flourishing compared to their white colleagues.

Health: Physical, emotional and mental health among pastors is lower than the general population (69 vs. 73) and notably behind practicing Christians (79). This is especially alarming since a leader’s wholeness is intertwined with their ministry, for better or for worse. Barna researchers have observed a strong link between pastors' falling conviction in their vocational calling and a drop in their overall mental, emotional and even physical well-being. Pastors with diminished well-being may have a higher risk of burnout.

Relationships: Perhaps most concerning is that pastors may be misidentifying their greatest needs. Despite scoring lowest in relationships (67) and well-being (69), pastors are most likely to say they need help with leadership development, spiritual growth and finances—areas where they already demonstrate relative strength.

Read more about how today’s pastors are faring in our recent State of the Church release, Pastoral Flourishing, available exclusively on Barna Access Plus.

Confidence in Pastoral Calling Is on the Rise

Today, 56 percent of pastors say they are more confident about their calling than when they first entered ministry—the highest this metric has been since before the COVID-19 pandemic. This represents a meaningful recovery after years of uncertainty and adjustment.

The broader picture of vocational satisfaction shows both stability and room for growth. Over nine in 10 pastors (93%) report being at least somewhat satisfied with their job, which is high for any profession. However, the number of pastors who describe themselves as “very satisfied” has declined by 14 percentage points over the past nine years. This suggests that, while ministry remains fulfilling, it could also be growing more complex.

Encouragingly, confidence among most segments of pastors has been increasing year over year. Female pastors (who, in our research, consistently reported higher levels of burnout and consideration of leaving ministry during the pandemic) have shown notable resilience. Their confidence increased by 7 percentage points from 2023 to 2024  and is up 27 percentage points from 2022.

This pattern holds true for vocational satisfaction as well. Most demographic segments have seen increases or stability in satisfaction since last year, with female pastors showing the most significant gains.

All in all, it’s clear that most pastors enjoy their jobs, but the percentage of those who are very satisfied could use a boost. As churches continue to navigate post-pandemic ministry realities, rising confidence among pastors provides a foundation for addressing the challenges that remain.

Half of Pastors Don't Receive Professional Support

Though pastors, overall, are secure in their faith (and this certainly has a positive ripple effect, the data suggests they have other personal and relational needs that are not being specifically addressed in community or by trusted outside voices.

Looking at their personal development, over half of pastors (52%) do not currently use the range of sources Barna asked about to support them in ministry (mentors, advisors, coaches, counselors and the like).

When pastors do seek support, they tend to do so on a personal level, such as through a mentor (22%) or a spiritual advisor (17%). When it comes to mental health, 12 percent of pastors currently see a therapist, 3 percent see a marriage counselor and 9 percent see a professional counselor.

Our research also reveals important connections between support and flourishing. Pastors who receive more frequent spiritual support report higher vocational satisfaction. Conversely, pastors who struggle with work-life balance receive spiritual support less often.

These correlations highlight a concerning cycle for churches to note: Those who most need support may be least likely to access it, potentially due to time constraints, financial limitations or simply feeling too overwhelmed to seek help.

For Pastors, Financial Security Goes Beyond the Paycheck

Another positive result in our research—pastors outscore U.S. adults by 8 points in financial flourishing (70 vs. 62). On its face, this might be surprising; ministry isn’t often thought of as a lucrative career path.  But Barna's financial flourishing dimension isn’t based on income or status. Rather, it assesses a person’s perception of their own financial security.

Compared to U.S. adults at large, pastors are not as worried about covering their expenses or essential needs.

Seven out of 10 pastors (69%) express being “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with their job security and the stability of their employment. About half express the same level of satisfaction with their income level compared to their family’s needs. Interestingly, there is no statistical relationship between this satisfaction and a pastor's actual salary—suggesting that factors beyond compensation influence financial peace of mind.

Where pastors are dissatisfied is in the amount of emergency funds and savings their family has. Just less than half (46%) of pastors say they are “not too satisfied” or “not at all satisfied” with this.

Pastoring can be a stable career, but isn’t free of financial burden. Church leaders appear to have found a measure of contentment with their compensation while still experiencing concerns about long-term financial security. While pastors aren’t primarily motivated by financial gain, structures that support emergency savings and long-term security may significantly enhance their well-being and ministry longevity.

Pastors Express Mixed Confidence in Retiring One Day

While retirement is mostly viewed through an economic lens, pastors face unique considerations balancing vocational calling, financial preparation and life stage.

The average pastor today is 52 years old, and 64 percent express some confidence that they will be able to retire when they want to. However, just one in five (20%) are “completely confident” in this. Over one in three pastors (36%) is either “not confident” or “not sure” about their retirement timing.

When asked specifically about retirement savings, the picture becomes more concerning. Nearly half of pastors (47%) report being “not too satisfied” or “not at all satisfied” with their retirement contributions. This disconnect between general retirement confidence and specific savings satisfaction suggests that many pastors may have expectations that aren’t aligned with their financial reality.

When we calculate how soon pastors hope to retire, we find that 15 percent are looking to step back within 5 years, and 27 percent within the next decade. With more than a quarter of current pastors potentially retiring in the next 10 years, church succession planning takes on new urgency.

Younger pastors also express considerably less confidence in their ability to retire when they want compared to older pastors. Over half of pastors under 40 are either unsure or not confident about their retirement timing. This generational gap may reflect broader economic trends. It could also indicate that younger pastors have a more realistic view of what financial preparation is necessary for retirement.

Urgency for the Future Church

Today’s pastors are spiritually strong—their faith scores at a healthy 91, and confidence in their calling has reached its highest point since before the pandemic. Yet alongside this, there’s also a troubling reality: half of all pastors receive no professional support, and their lowest flourishing scores are where human connection especially matters: relationships and well-being.

A pastor’s flourishing isn’t only about one person’s calling or gifting—it’s about community. If we want resilient churches, we need resilient leaders—and that starts by helping pastors build lives of deep, honest connection. Next month, we’ll dive more into these crucial areas to see where pastors need support most.