The United States could see the closure of 15,000 churches this year, according to new research.
As Axios first reported, the unprecedented decline in churches could leave vulnerable communities – particularly in rural America – without essential services such as food provision, childcare, and disaster relief, which many have long depended on. This sharp decline also reflects another trend in American society: a growing number of people now identify as religiously unaffiliated.
According to the Pew Research Center, roughly 62 per cent of Americans identify as Christian, compared with 78 per cent in 2007. At the same time, large non-denominational megachurches and evangelical Christianity are increasing in influence. The shift is reportedly being driven by politics, politicians, and conservative groups seeking to expand religion’s role in public schools and other institutions.
With more than 15,000 churches expected to close, some groups warn that this highlights a wider problem in the United States: retaining full-time pastors has become increasingly difficult. The National Council of Churches has warned that as many as 100,000 US churches – around a quarter of the nation’s total – could close in the future, and an estimated 15,000 pastors could move into part-time ministry.
One reason retention is proving so challenging is the struggle to meet basic needs on existing salaries, with many pastors forced to take on second jobs to support their families.
Recent data shows that the median salary for a full-time pastor in the US is around $56,000 per year, although that figure varies depending on church size, budget, and location. Only 10 per cent of pastors receive a salary that places them in the upper-middle-class bracket of $94,001–$153,000.