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

Report: VPN Downloads Soar in UK Following Age Verification Deadline

Virtual private network apps, which can be used to circumvent geo-specific age verification requirements, are topping Apple App Store downloads in the U.K. in the wake of new Online Safety Act rules, the BBC is reporting.

Strike 3 Holdings Sues Meta for Pirating Vixen Media Group Content to Train AI

Vixen Media Group owner Strike 3 Holdings filed suit in federal court this week, accusing Facebook parent company Meta of copyright infringement and alleging that Meta has extensively pirated VMG content to train its artificial intelligence models.

Pineapple Support, Streamate to Host 'Navigating Grief and Loss' Support Group

Pineapple Support and Streamate are hosting a free online support group to help performers cope with grief and loss.

Friday is Final AV Compliance Deadline in UK

Friday, July 25 marks U.K. media regulator Ofcom’s deadline for user-to-user services such as tube, cam and fan sites to implement its requisite “highly effective age assurance” measures for preventing minors from viewing adult content.

AEBN Publishes Popular Searches for May, June

AEBN has released the top search terms for the months of May and June from its straight and gay theaters in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Two Texas Bills Restricting Sex Toy Sales Fail to Pass

Two bills aimed at restricting sales of sex toys have failed to pass the Texas state legislature during its 2025 session.

NYC Adult Stores Petition for Rehearing in Zoning Law Case

A group of adult businesses on Tuesday petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to rehear a case involving a zoning law that could severely limit adult stores’ operations in New York City.

Ofcom Releases Transparency Reporting Guidelines

Ofcom, the U.K. media regulator, has made public its official guidance detailing how online service providers — including adult sites — will be required to publish annual transparency reports on their efforts to protect children from online harms.

New AV Rules Take Effect for Ireland-Based Sites

Ireland’s Online Safety Code came into force Monday, including a provision requiring adult sites headquartered in Ireland to implement age assurance measures beyond self-declaration.

XBIZ Amsterdam Calls on New Startups for 'Spotlight' Program

XBIZ is pleased to announce that its new “Startup Spotlight” programming will make its European premiere at XBIZ Amsterdam 2025, set to take place Sept. 2-5 at the Jakarta Hotel Amsterdam.

Show More