Church Leadership Radar - May 12, 2026

Your daily catch-up on what matters in church leadership.Today's Stories:The Pastor Pipeline Crisis: Seminary enrollment for ministry degrees has dropped 14% in five years, and nearly 4 in 10 clergy say they've seriously considered leaving the profession. Is this a recruiting problem—or a systemic one?Financial Aid at Risk: A new federal regulation would tie financial aid eligibility to graduate earnings data—which could effectively disqualify theology and ministry degree programs. The downstream effects on church hiring could arrive faster than you think.Young Men Returning to Church: New research shows a measurable uptick in young male church attendance—a reversal of a decade-long trend. The question is whether churches are ready to disciple them well.The Bright Spot: A coalition of Christians refusing to give up on Gary, Indiana—one of the most economically devastated cities in America.Takeaway: Who in your congregation, staff, or volunteer base has real leadership gifts? Have you named it to them? That's how pipelines get rebuilt—one person at a time.---📬 Subscribe to the newsletter🎙️ Healthy Church Staff Podcast