Watching the movie Jesus Camp, our class talked about Ted Haggarty. It kills me to hear people talking about pastors who have had a moral failure, but I know it happens a lot. In completely blown away by how often it really does happen. A study by FASICLD (the Francis Scheaffer institute) notes thatout of 1,050 pastors surveyed:
- 30% said they had either been in an ongoing affair or a one-time sexual encounter with a parishioner.
- Eight hundred two (802 or 71%) of pastors stated they were burned out, and they battle depression beyond fatigue on a weekly and even a daily basis.
From research done by Barna, Focus on the Family and Fuller Theological Seminary:
- Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
- Fifty percent of pastors are so discouraged that they would leave the ministry if they could, but have no other way of making a living.
- Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons (This is Key).