Pastors are the Happiest People on Earth

True or False? Are Pastors the happiest people on earth? According to this Chicago Tribune article they are. The article reports:

" Eighty-seven percent of clergy said they were "very satisfied" with their work, compared with an average 47 percent for all workers. Sixty-seven percent reported being "very happy," compared with an average 33 percent for all workers."


But what about these statistics from Journey Church pastor, Darrin Patrick:

• Fifteen hundred pastors leave the ministry each month due to moral failure, spiritual burnout, or contention in their churches.
• Fifty percent of pastors' marriages will end in divorce.
• Eighty percent of pastors and eighty-four percent of their spouses feel unqualified and discouraged in their role as pastors.
• 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.
• Eighty percent of seminary and Bible school graduates who enter the ministry will leave the ministry within the first five years.
• Seventy percent of pastors constantly fight depression.
• Almost forty percent polled said they have had an extra-marital affair since beginning their ministry.
• Seventy percent said the only time they spend studying the Word is when they are preparing their sermons.

.........................

It doesn't sound like the pastors in these statistics would be the happiest or most satisfied people on earth. In fact, it sounds quite the contrary. So what's the dealio? Evidently someone's statistics are incorrect or pastors just lied on their happiness survey. I would hope that a lot of Darrin's statistics are wrong, because otherwise the church has a huge problem on its hands in dealing with pastors. But I, from personal experience, would also believe that many pastors would lie about their happiness and satisfaction, because they know they are supposed to feel satisfied and fulfilled in their ministry calling and continue to tell themselves they are happy, even if it's not the way they feel.

So what do you think? Do you think pastors are the happiest and most fulfilled professionals? Should they be? Or should all Christian professionals be the happiest and most fulfilled? What does Darrin Patrick's stats, if true, mean for the church in general? Share your thoughts.