QUESTION 27
What year did you begin your FIRST full-time position as a Minister of Music (including combined positions like music/youth or music/administration, etc.)?
Responses to Q27
| Answer Choices | Responses | Percent |
| 2014 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 2013 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 2012 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 2011 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 2010 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 2009 | 8 | 3.03 |
| 2008 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 2007 | 9 | 3.41 |
| 2006 | 14 | 5.30 |
| 2005 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 2004 | 9 | 3.41 |
| 2003 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 2002 | 10 | 3.79 |
| 2001 | 3 | 1.14 |
| 2000 | 10 | 3.79 |
| 1999 | 15 | 5.68 |
| 1998 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 1997 | 16 | 6.06 |
| 1996 | 8 | 3.03 |
| 1995 | 7 | 2.65 |
| 1994 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 1993 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 1992 | 7 | 2.65 |
| 1991 | 7 | 2.65 |
| 1990 | 4 | 1.52 |
| 1989 | 2 | 0.76 |
| 1988 | 4 | 1.52 |
| 1987 | 3 | 1.14 |
| 1986 | 2 | 0.76 |
| 1985 | 9 | 3.41 |
| 1984 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 1983 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 1982 | 6 | 2.27 |
| 1981 | 7 | 2.65 |
| 1980 | 9 | 3.41 |
| 1979 | 4 | 1.52 |
| 1978 | 4 | 1.52 |
| 1977 | 1 | 0.38 |
| 1976 | 5 | 1.89 |
| 1975 | 4 | 1.52 |
| 1974 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1973 | 1 | 0.38 |
| 1972 | 1 | 0.38 |
| 1971 | 2 | 0.76 |
| 1970 | 0 | 0.00 |
| 1969 | 2 | 0.76 |
| Total | 264 | — |
| Skipped | 3 | — |
Analysis
- Combined years of experience represented in the survey:
- 4850! (Nearly Five Millennia of Experience!)
- Number of years in ministry vs. how many sites (single or multi). There is a statistically significant relationship between the number of years in ministry and the question of single vs. multi-site. Single-site ministers have been in ministry an average of 16.4 years. Multi-site ministers have been in ministry an average of 19.3 years.
- Church attendance number vs. number of years in ministry
- Average of all 1500+ … 18.3 years
- Average of all 3000+ … 17.8 years
- Average of all 4500+ … 14.1 years
- Average of all 6000+ … 13.8 years
- Average of all 7500+ … 12.3 years
- Average of all 9000+ … 15.2 years
- In large SBC churches, there is a trend toward churches of higher attendance having slightly less experienced worship pastors. This could be a result of older senior pastors desiring younger platform leadership.
- Average years in ministry of all survey participants: 18.2
- 18 churches have more than 5000 in attendance. Remarkably, in 14 of the 18 churches, the worship pastor has less than 18 years of experience. (That means he has less experience than the average of the 267 churches). On the other hand, if we look at churches between 1100 and 5000, the range of experience is fairly evenly spread from 1 year to 40 years.
- How long have Urban, Suburban, and Rural Worship Pastors been in ministry?
- Urban: Average of 19.5 years
- Suburban: Average of 18.2 years
- Rural: Average of 11.0 years
- The above is interesting because it shows that worship pastors at large urban/suburban have more career longevity as a worship pastor than those in rural areas.
- Also, at a large church it is rare to find a minister without many years of experience. Young, aspiring worship pastors would do well to note this fact. But it is less rare at a rural church. Rural churches employ ministers with vastly less experience.