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Season 4, Episode 15 - What the Data Demands — Clergy Well-Being in 2025 & Beyond

How are clergy really doing in 2025? Several major surveys offer a sobering look:

• Wespath 2025 Clergy Well-Being Survey
  — Clergy report higher rates of obesity, hypertension, financial stress, and loneliness compared to benchmarks.
• Duke Clergy Health Initiative – Mental Health Trends Report
  — Symptoms of depression and burnout rose through 2021 and remain at high levels.
• Hartford Institute Clergy Discontentment Report
  — 44% of clergy have considered leaving their congregation; more than half have considered leaving ministry altogether.
• Lifeway Research on Pastoral Retention
  — While only 1% of pastors leave annually, many stay despite deep exhaustion; 22% cite burnout when they do leave.

In this episode, we unpack what these numbers mean for long-term sustainability in ministry and offer practical steps to help clergy thrive: caring for physical and emotional health, clarifying finances, nurturing relationships, and advocating for systemic change.

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