35 and Older

By the AP's Liz Austin:

AUSTIN, TEXAS: As the daughter and granddaughter of Presbyterian preachers, Laura Elly Hudson knew plenty about the ministry growing up - mostly that she didn't want any part of it. The low pay was one reason. And the long hours. Not to mention that she was terrified of having to answer the most vexing spiritual questions at the toughest times in people's lives.
Experts say that those and other concerns are discouraging young adults from pursuing careers in church ministry and have led to a 20-year decline among mainline denominations in the number of clergy under 35.