The following is an excerpt from the article "The Adventist Pastor Today" by Lawrence Downing, in the May/June 2001 issue of Adventist Today (vol. 9, issue 3, p. 11)

The greying of the Adventist ministry does not bode well for the future. In contrast to previous times when an Adventist college might graduate 30 or 40 theological students each year, an Adventist college today may graduate 10 theology majors or fewer.

In years past, the majority of theology graduates had a job waiting when they received their diploma. Today, there is high probability that half or more of the graduates will not find placement in parish ministry. Some colleges, accepting the reality of the situation, require theology majors to have a fallback call. With the risk of unemployment in one's chosen field a distinct possibility, significant numbers of bright students chose to pursue other fields.

Adventism is in decline among North American anglos, both numerically and economically. We in the parish ministry recognize that the churches we pastor need help. We see our membership decrease through death or apostacy. The people who take the place those who leave are usually less educated and have less expendable economic resources.