Southern Baptists Blame Youth Pastor Shortage on 'Proliferation of Pornography'

Southern Baptists Blame Youth Pastor Shortage on 'Proliferation of Pornography'

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southern Baptist church leaders are blaming their difficulties staffing youth pastor positions not on any lack of appeal due to anachronistic dogma, racial divisions or sex abuse scandals, but on “the proliferation of pornography.”

Earlier this month, the Baptist Paper — a leading news and opinion source for members of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States — published a piece headlined, “Youth Pastor Shortage Leaves Churches Scrambling to Fill Key Role.”

According to its own statistics, the SBC is the largest Protestant group in the U.S. and the second-largest Christian denomination in membership, surpassed only by the Roman Catholic Church.

“Pastors in general are in short supply these days, and the data proves it,” wrote David Roach of the Alabama-based Baptist Paper. “But some youth ministry experts suspect the student pastor shortage is even more severe.”

Roach quotes Larry Hyche of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions as saying that he warns churches seeking student pastors “that it could be a year or two to find a good candidate for your church — especially if you’re looking for a full-time student pastor.”   

Roach then speculates that “the proliferation of pornography" may be fueling the shortage of youth pastors. 

Dubious Statistics from Covenant Eyes

To back his contention, Roach cites a statistic from "the ministry Covenant Eyes," asserting that “57% of teenagers search out pornography at least monthly.”

As XBIZ reported — and Wired exposed last week — Covenant Eyes is less a ministry than a Michigan-based niche software company that installs surveillance software marketed as “porn filters” through a network of churches.

The Baptist Paper article then claims without attribution that “one in five youth pastors — and one in seven senior pastors — use porn on a regular basis,” and suggests that “those who recruit young adults to student ministry say porn addictions make many feel unworthy to answer the call to ministry.”

'First Cast out the Beam Out of Thine Own Eye' (Matthew, 7:5)

As XBIZ reported, in 2020 two religious leaders advised Southern Baptists to spend more time "fighting pornography" rather than debating church doctrine, the SBC's history of white supremacy or cases of sexual abuse by clergy.

Southern Baptist leaders have compared the current War on Porn — and particularly the Exodus Cry-driven attack on Pornhub — to the early church's fight against “pagan culture." SBC leaders have called for state censorship of all pornography, labeling the adult industry's constitutionally-protected exercise of free speech “an individual private indulgence” that combines “sexual abuse and trafficking.” 

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

WannaCollab has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More