Pastors | Nazarene Presence on the Northeast Megaregion (1887-2017)

About one-third of pastors have been in place under three years in other parts of the US/Canada. In the Northeast megaregion, the rate goes up to around 30% in their current assignments within five years. There might be more reluctance to move around, maybe not enough opportunity to move.  

Median tenure for pastors is 2009. So, about half of pastors have been in place since 2009.

Median worship attendance also increases to 50. There are also more churches in the +150 range. 

Fascinating that the longest tenure for a pastor is 55 years (Bethel Cumberland MD).

It no longer surprises me as it should to see so many churches without an assigned pastor. There are 105 churches without an assigned pastor at this point in time during the reports given in 2016 and 2017. Clergy development is behind the wave.

Remember, as these numbers jump off the page, we are looking at a descriptive snapshot of current ministry activity and Nazarene presence. What will be needed--a prescriptive account--is not being considered yet.  

These numbers are intimidating and invigorating all at the same time. What seems like a disastrous tidal wave can be a chance to ride the perfect wave.

The current population in the Northeast megaregion is 52.3 million. At one church for every 10,000 people, this is 5,230 churches.  In 2025, there will be a modest bump of six million more people. By 2050, there will be 70.8 million, or a need for 7,080 churches. With pastors. There were, in this snapshot of time, 605 active churches reporting attendance, and only 516 pastors. 

These numbers are intimidating and invigorating all at the same time. What seems like a disastrous tidal wave can be a chance to ride the perfect wave. 

I cannot help but notice the ethnically diverse makeup of this megaregion's population and wonder how pastors will be prepared to traverse such a diverse context. Intercultural competence will not be optional in the future of Nazarene presence in the the Northeast megaregion.

Resources:

• Pastors | Cascadia Megaregion
• Pastors | SoCal Megaregion
• Pastors | Great Lakes Megaregion
• Nazarene Presence in the Southern California Megaregion (1895-2015)
• ​Nazarene Presence in the Cascadia Megaregion (1905-2015)
• Great Lakes Megaregion and the Church of the Nazarene​
• Megaregions and the Church of the Nazarene in North America​​