How Do Conferences That Invest in Continuing Education for Pastors Compare in Growth?

Executive summary

Research across Protestant denominations consistently demonstrates a positive correlation between pastoral continuing education and congregational growth. A study of 51 Southern Baptist pastors in West Virginia found that those engaged in ongoing study or degree programs were significantly more likely to serve growing churches, even in declining population areas. In Kenyan Pentecostal contexts, theological training directly enhanced leadership skills and reduced congregational conflicts. Within ...