Some of my brightest seminary classmates are now former pastors. Several others secretly wish they were, but just haven’t found a good way out.

They have not given up on God, but simply see so many of the demands on their time as having little to do with the spiritual calling they eagerly embraced years ago. The only lost faith is in those bearing the Christian name who work so hard to bring them down.

A crisis in pastoral leadership is coming into Baptist life if not here already. It is time we started doing something about it.

Lilly Foundation, concerned about this crisis across denominational lines, is pouring millions of dollars into nurturing young Christians who sense a ministerial call and to encouraging experienced ministers to stay in congregational ministry.

Church members who assume the self-appointed role of “running off the preacher” through constant criticism are nothing new. However, the factors pushing many good ministers out of local churches today are greater than a few disgruntled members.

Expectations are often unreasonably high. Pastors are expected to supervise staff, oversee the smooth operation of multiple programs, provide constant pastoral care and then preach on Sunday with all the skill and flair of the prima donna who appeared on television earlier that morning.

Pastors are told to be bold and prophetic in their preaching. Yet the message is only tolerated by some as long as the pastor’s perspective aligns with theirs. The danger zone can be hard to determine.

Therefore, some pastors become “chaplains to the culture” — as one minister described it — avoiding controversial topics in order to keep members appeased. Then they realize the prophetic role that was vital to their calling has been diminished.

A fear of being turned on or turned out is not unfounded. Pastors know the sting of seeing someone they helped through a crisis later conspire to undermine their leadership over a minor disagreement.

Baptist politics also make pastoral leadership more difficult. Some ignore the vast changes in Baptist life. Others speak their convictions only to find resistance to any possibility other than what the church has done for the last half century.

Being a ministerial student is more challenging now as well. Sorting out one’s calling and making practical arrangements for theological training is hard enough. Now students must narrow their vocational options simply by the political identity of the seminary they choose and by the churches where they get early ministry experience.

The discovery that many current seminary students — who are so passionate about ministry — see the local church as too restrictive for them to carry out their calling should alarm us all.

Rather than lament over these serious and numerous challenges, it is important for churches — yes, us — to do something about improving the situation. Even with its huge grants, Lilly Foundation has less power to enhance the role of pastoral leadership for the future than those of us who hold leadership roles in local churches.

First, we must acknowledge the high expectations placed on ministers. Tell them we understand and appreciate the challenges they face. And publicly defend them when their work is misrepresented or undermined by the bitter few.

Second, we can urge our brightest young people to consider the call of God upon their lives. Whether they see the church as a place where authentic ministry occurs or as a restrictive, outdated institution will largely determine their response. And we determine the kind of church they experience.

Third, don’t forget to pastor the pastor. Everyone needs support, encouragement and permission to pass through the valleys of disappointment and uncertainty.

Many ministers emotionally pen their resignations every Monday. Let them know that it’s okay to do so. Then thank them for being at the hospital early Tuesday morning for your mother’s heart surgery; for including your co-worker on the Wednesday prayer list; for speaking such uplifting words at your neighbor’s funeral on Thursday; and for officiating your daughter’s wedding last weekend.

There are times in our lives when we all need a called, competent and committed minister. If we do our part, the minister will be there for us. Otherwise, we may lose that person to secular vocations where he or she is treated with more respect and dignity.