Where Have All the Pastors Gone?

The old song by Peter, Paul, and Mary, “Where have all the flowers gone?” came to my mind as I listened to the leadership of my church in North America discussing a report by the Ministerial Association on the number of pastors. The number of retired pastors and those eligible for retirement is increasing. The number of pastors who leave pastoral ministry due to attrition, as they call it, is substantial. The young people studying theology and religion majors at Adventist Universities will never make up for these numbers. Where have all the pastors gone?

The song repeats the question, “When will they ever learn?” Of course, the song is not about pastors. Nor does it offer answers, because the answers lead to further questions. Where have all the young girls gone? Gone for husbands every one. That’s what women should do, isn’t it? Not preach or teach. So why even think of studying theology and becoming a pastor?

I didn’t follow the discussion well enough to find out whether the retired and retiring pastors were mostly men, but knowing that when those pastors were young, women were told to marry a pastor if they felt called to ministry, I have reason to assume they are.

In the Swedish Lutheran church, there is a gender parity in the pastorate, with slightly more women than men as priests. The catholic church refuses to ordain women to the priesthood although there is a dire need for clergy. That door is closed. They are looking for an escape door by discussing the ordination of women to the diaconate. Let the women minister, but not as equals. Once again, I am reminded of how similar the Adventist approach is. Let them minister, but not as equals.

More young women are studying for the ministry today than ever. We have more women who serve as pastors. There are many more who have studied theology and worked as pastors, but who have left the ministry. Where have the women pastors gone? And why? Is motherhood not compatible with working as a pastor? I know of a few cases where the conference seemed relieved when a pastor became pregnant and decided to devote herself to her family. Other women pastors experienced rejection and abuse by church members which led to burnout. Some women who worked as pastors were terminated when they married a pastor, wounding their souls. Where have our wounded gone? Where have all their flowers of joyful service gone? Can they grow on the graves of their hopes and dreams?

Where have they all gone? But who will fill the gap when the old ordained pastors have gone? After all, ordination is supposed to have some meaning as to how pastors advance in leadership. Will we soon ask the question, Where have all the leaders gone because there are not enough ordained pastors to serve in leadership?

This is not just a problem in the North American Division. In many parts of the world, the church faces the same dilemma. I don’t think that God has given up on calling men and women to serve as pastors, to feed His lambs. When will we learn to let them use the talents God has given them without regard to gender? The women who hold up half the sky would hold up the church as well.

When will we ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the flowers gone?

Young girls have picked them every one

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the young girls gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the young girls gone?

Gone for husbands every one

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the husbands gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the husbands gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the husbands gone?

Gone for soldiers every one

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the soldiers gone?

Gone to graveyards every one

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the graveyards gone?

Gone to flowers everyone

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time passing

Where have all the flowers gone?

Long time ago

Where have all the flowers gone?

Young girls have picked them every one

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Oh, when will they ever learn?

Source: Musixmatch