This might come as a shock to you, but over the last year or so I have been talking with dozens of pastors who say that they would lose their jobs if their congregations knew about their deconstruction.
It’s true. In fact, most of these pastors are ending up in my Square 1 and Ground Zero courses online where they find a safe place to question their faith, share their doubts and work through the painful process of deconstructing their Christianity.
But, as painful as it can be to deconstruct your faith, it’s ten times harder when you’re a pastor. Here’s why: In addition to all the usual fears and anxiety about losing close friendships and being rejected by your church community, pastors have the added threat of finding themselves unemployed if anyone finds out they no longer believe in Eternal Torment, or Penal Substitutionary Atonement, or the Inerrancy of Scripture.
What’s more, these pastors end up wrestling with this fear in total isolation. They have no real friends they can confide in. Many of them feel like they’re betraying their calling by preaching things they no longer believe. Even if they do try preaching sermons that challenge the doctrinal statements of their churches, they often end up feeling even more guilty for sabotaging the faith of their parishioners. Or they live in constant fear of being exposed by someone on the elder board or challenged by one of their deacons for preaching off the script.
Yes, it’s hard enough deconstructing without adding the weight of pastoring to the mix. This is why so many pastors end up imploding from the pressure. There’s just no way out for many of them.
The statistics for pastors in America are already bad enough without piling spiritual deconstruction on top of everything else.
According to Focus on the Family, Ministries Today, Charisma Magazine, TNT Ministries, and other respected groups:
- 1,500 pastors leave the ministry permanently each month in America
- 4,000 new churches start each year in America
- 7,000 churches close each year in America
- 50% of pastors’ marriages end in divorce
- 70% of pastors continually battle depression
- 80% of pastors and 85% of their spouses feel discouraged in their roles
- 95% of pastors do not regularly pray with their spouses
- 70% of pastors do not have a close friend, confidant, or mentor
- 50% of pastors are so discouraged they would leave the ministry if they could but have no other way to make a living
So, what is a pastor to do? The answers aren’t easy. I’ve counseled several hundred pastors over the last 15 years who come to me with very similar stories. They’ve been thinking and praying and studying about some doctrine that they can no longer support any longer. But they’re terrified of losing their jobs if anyone finds out. Some of them think they can slowly introduce new doctrines into their sermons and lead their congregations away from traditional doctrines over time. Others end up feeling like they can no longer stay in the pulpit and make plans to quietly resign and find work outside the church – which isn’t easy to do when your resume is 100% about your career as a full-time pastor and all of your degrees are from Bible Colleges and Seminaries.
Many pastors, as I’ve said, end up in my Square 1 course on Deconstruction/Reconstruction. Some of them have signed up for the new Ground Zero course which is also focused on helping Christians navigate the process of rethinking their faith.
But, what I’m starting to realize is that what’s really needed is something a lot more targeted to the very unique challenges pastors face as they try to survive pastoral deconstruction.
So, that’s why I’ve started something called “Ground Zero: Renew” which will feature 5 conversations with pastors who have survived the process of deconstruction and 1 conversation with a friend who understands what it’s like to deal with the pressure of becoming a spiritual leader to people who place too much expectation on your shoulders.
The 2-day webinar will run Jan. 16 and 17, 2021 and will feature conversations with amazing people like:
*Alan Smith
*Desimber Rose
*Richard Jacobson
*Spencer Burke
*Jason Elam
*Lisa Martinez
The course will also include access to an exclusive private Facebook group where pastors can talk with and meet other pastors who understand exactly what it’s like to walk through this valley of spiritual uncertainty.
The goal is to make sure every one of these pastors knows they are not alone.
When I started my deconstruction journey over 15 years ago, I was a pastor on staff at a church my wife and I had helped to plant with our friends. After 3 years we realized that our calling was outside of the church and into the great unknown beyond those four walls.
It was scary. It was hard. But it was very, very worth the price.
If you’re a pastor who feels the pain of deconstructing your faith and you’re tired of doing this all alone, I invite you to join me and a whole lot of other former-pastors who know what you’re going through and can’t wait to help you walk through it.
Ground Zero: Renew is for pastors [and former pastors] only. Everything starts Jan. 16 but you can register today for just $19.99 right HERE.
I hope to see you there.
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Keith Giles and his wife, Wendy, work with Peace Catalyst International to help build relationships between Christians and Muslims in El Paso, TX. Keith was formerly a licensed and ordained minister who walked away from organized church over a decade ago to start a home fellowship that gave away 100% of the offering to the poor in the community. Today he is the author of the best-selling “Jesus Un” series of books, including “Jesus Unexpected: Ending The End Times To Become The Second Coming” which is available now on Amazon.
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