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A related category is the aging of ministry leaders, which is a likely explanation for why succession planning is on their minds. Once again, the largest percentage of respondents — 46% — said they are between ages 60 and 70.
As we reported from the January survey, a trend appears to be emerging, demonstrating some turnover and younger leadership. Again this quarter, over 51% of the respondents are under age 60.
Nondisclosure Agreements (NDAs)
MinistryWatch once again asked ministry leaders about their use of the nondisclosure agreements as part of their operations. A debate has arisen in recent years over how and why Christian ministries use NDAs as part of their operations. While NDAs may be used to protect confidential information about how a ministry operates, at other times they may be used to prevent persons from discussing the terms of a settlement agreement. NDAs are binding, and violations can result in a lawsuit.
We began asking about the use of NDAs in April 2023. In that survey, 47% of ministries answered that they use NDAs, 49% said they didn’t use them, and 4% said they didn’t know.
In the October survey, 42% of respondents said they use NDAs, 57% said they don’t use them, and only 1% said they didn’t know.
When asked to elaborate about the purposes for using NDAs, 68% of leaders said they are used for protection of proprietary information, 39% said they were required by third party vendors (up from 27% in April 2023), and 23% use them as part of severance or settlement agreements (down from 27% when we first asked the question).
Some respondents chose to elaborate on their answer,s telling us they will use an NDA upon legal advice if an “employee acts contrary to biblical ethics.” One leader also said they use NDAs for “information about missionaries working in sensitive locations.”