Barna group reports pastors’ sense of calling up, satisfaction lags

A newly released report by Barna and Gloo finds that while emotional strain and exhaustion has improved among pastors in the U.S., satisfaction has decreased from 72 percent in 2015 to 52 percent in 2026.

The study was released as part of the 2026 State of the Church series.

Positively, Barna reported feelings of inadequacy among pastors have fallen steadily from 64 percent in 2023 to 44 percent in 2026.

Emotional and mental fatigue followed the same direction, with over 60 percent of pastors saying they feel emotionally and mentally drained, down from nearly 75 percent a decade ago.

In 2015, 66 percent of pastors also said they feel more confident in their calling than when they entered ministry, a figure that fell during the COVID-19 years to 35 percent.

Since the pandemic, the numbers have increased to 58 percent, recovering just under pre-pandemic levels.

Negatively, Barna reported pastors who described themselves as “very satisfied” declining from 72 percent in 2015 to 52 percent, a 20-point decrease over a decade.

Those who were “somewhat satisfied” rose to 40 percent.

When asked about being satisfied with their current church ministry, 53 percent today say they are “very satisfied,” while 43 percent say they are “somewhat satisfied.”

Sustainable, but less fulfilling

Barna group said the report is not a question of pastoral calling, but a question of day-to-day operations.

Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research, said the data points to a trend of pastors being content with their calling, but struggling with the work itself.

“Pastors are in the most emotionally healthy place they’ve been in a while regarding vocation,” said Copeland.

“But the satisfaction data suggest they may be settling into a more sustainable—but less deeply fulfilling—experience of the work itself.”

Barna said the findings point to the need for one’s role and responsibilities to better align with their gifts and strengths and the skill of delegating responsibilities to others.

Church Strong and Ministers Strong

Katie Frugé, director of Texas Baptists’ Christian Life Commission, said the report highlights God being at work in the lives of ministry leaders and the necessity for support to provide direction to those answering the call.

“The gap between calling and job satisfaction, however, highlights the need for better alignment between the expectations of the church and the expectations of the minister,” Frugé said.

“Strategic alignment of gifts and abilities is a crucial component of a healthy work environment, especially in ministry settings. That is why Texas Baptists are committed to holistically resourcing churches and ministers through our ‘Church Strong and Ministers Strong’ teams, ensuring that both the congregation and the pastor have tangible resources to help them build a thriving culture.”