The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific is losing more ministers than it is gaining, according to research compiled by Brad Kemp, the church's leadership director.
The Seventh-day Adventist Church in the South Pacific is losing more ministers than it is gaining, according to research compiled by Brad Kemp, the church’s leadership director.
“The church has enjoyed the benefits of a committed and well-trained ministry,” he says. How long will these benefits last? Kemp projects a shortage of 50 ministers in five years, and 62 in 20.
His figures show that only 60 percent of the students graduating from theology at the church’s tertiary institution, Avondale College, between 1990 and 2000 are still working in the ministry. An average of 14 students graduated each year during this decade, but an average of 12 ministers retired and an average of 12 left the ministry each year as well.
“A minister’s job description—administrator, counselor, evangelist, promoter or trainer, virtually on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, often at two or more churches—is challenging,” says Kemp. “This strains family relationships. The figures are disturbing but perhaps not surprising.”
Kemp challenges church members to be sensitive to a minister’s needs. “Help them maintain adequate boundaries,” he says.
Anthony Kent, secretary of the church’s Ministerial Association, says the church will have to look more to its members to act as ministers, or recruit ministers from overseas, if it cannot contain its losses.
“The church relies heavily on its members for financing and fulfilling its ministry,” he says. “However, the church also needs ministers trained to coordinate, direct, lead, and support. A skilled minister and a motivated local church is a powerful combination. The success of this combination means so much to the success of Adventism.”
Kent says the quality of a minister’s internship is the key to realizing their potential. “Many of the essential traits of ministry are ‘caught’ rather than ‘taught.’”
Kemp and Kent stress the positives of ministry. “A founder of our church, Ellen White, called it the greatest work on earth,” says Kemp. “I’ve been a minister for 17 years and have no hesitation in testifying that it’s a fulfilling journey of leadership and service.”
Kent describes following a call from God into the ministry as “one of the most exciting things you’ll ever do.”