Research: A Lewis Center Report

  Older Clergy Constitute Largest Share of Clergy in History

• Elders between ages 55 and 72 comprise 52 percent of all active elders, the highest percentage in history.  One year ago this group reached 50 percent for the first time ever.  This age cohort represented only 30 percent of active elders as recently as 2000.  Previously their percentage of the total was even lower.
• The median age of elders remains at 55 in 2011, the highest in history, reached first in 2010.  The median age was 50 in 2000 and 45 in 1973. 

The Percentage of Middle Age Elders Continues to Shrink

• The percentage of elders aged 35 to 54 continues to shrink,  from 65 percent of all active elders in 2000 to 43 percent in 2011.

The Number of Young Clergy Continues to Grow Slowly but Steadily

• There are more young elders, deacons, and local pastors than ten years ago.
• The numbers and percentages of young elders and local pastors grew slightly in 2011.  Young deacons declined very slightly after growing much faster than elders and local pastors for several years.