An Open Letter To Every Christian Minister In America, From A Former Pastor

The Beautiful Mess by John Pavlovitz Podcast · Aug 16, 2026 · 5m

To the Ministers in America,

I’ve been where you are.

For nearly 30 years, I stood in the pulpits and on the platforms where you now stand.

I know the difficulties of the work you do that many people don’t think about: the collective expectations of the people you serve, the incredible pressures that come from both above and around you, the number of opinions you have to respectfully sift through. And I know the tumult that often creates within you.

I understand the dizzying high-wire walk of trying to carry your personal convictions as well as the virtues and values you’re entrusted to…