For the first time, this study systematically analyses the whereabouts and departures of pastors in German and Swiss Free Churches and ‘Gemeinschaftsverbänden‘.1 In the years 2003–2023, 75.6% of the new ministers remained in the pastoral ministry long-term, 22.1% left early, mainly due to a change of profession or family work. The annual exit rate is 3.4%. In large associations as well as in traditional churches, the retention rate is significantly higher. A comparison with the number of graduates from ‘free’ training institutions indicates that there are currently 1.8 pastoral vacancies per graduate, which means that there is a significant structural shortfall. While the data collected refute the frequently postulated idea of a ‘mass exit’ from pastoral ministry, it nevertheless implies the need to ask more specific questions about the causes of, and possible strategies against, early departure from ministry.
Bartholomä et al. (2026) studied this question.