OCA Releases Updated Clergy Demographics and Vocations Outlook
New data shows a balanced clergy age profile and steady seminary enrollment, suggesting the Orthodox Church in America is well-positioned to meet pastoral needs amid continuing parish growth. However, certain numbers raise questions.
SPRINGFIELD, VA — The Chancery of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) has released updated data on the age of active priests and projections related to ordinations, retirements, and parish growth across the Church.
As of 2025, there are 502 active priests serving as rectors, priests-in-charge, or acting rectors of parishes and missions in the OCA. Of these, 25% (124 priests) are at or above the conventional retirement age of 65, and 22% (109 priests) are over 67 — the full retirement age defined by the U.S. Social Security Administration. Another 21% (107 priests) are between 55 and 64, while 20% (102 priests) are under 44.
Including all clergy, the OCA counts 932 priests nationwide, of whom 191 are retired and 207 serve in non-rectoral capacities such as assistant clergy, chaplains, or parish attachments. Many of these could assume active parish leadership in the future.
The OCA also has 319 deacons, 301 of whom are active. The Diaconal Vocations Program currently enrolls 81 students, with six awaiting ordination. Some of these deacons may discern calls to the priesthood, providing an additional source of future clergy.
Across its 683 parishes, missions, and mission stations, the OCA currently has 118 without a resident rector, though many are small or remote communities that may not sustain full-time clergy. Despite this, parish growth remains strong: between 2020 and 2024, 38 new parishes were founded while only 18 closed, for a net increase of 20. So far in 2025, eight new parishes have opened and only one has closed.
Seminary enrollment remains steady, with 55 OCA seminarians pursuing Master of Divinity degrees at St. Vladimir’s and St. Tikhon’s Seminaries — an average of 18 graduates per year. St. Herman’s Seminary in Alaska has 15 students and ordains one to two priests annually, while the Diocese of Mexico’s Colegio Pastoral Ortodoxo San Basilio currently trains eight ordination-track students.
With current rates of ordination, seminary enrollment, and interjurisdictional transfers, the OCA projects that its clergy formation pipeline will meet and exceed foreseeable pastoral needs over the next decade.
"In sum, a well-rounded assessment of the clergy situation of the Orthodox Church in America — one that includes our current number of priests, both active and not, as well seminarians, deacons and transfers —shows that we are not expecting to face an acute clergy shortage in the near future," the Chancery report concludes. "Indeed, provided that we maintain and build upon our present strong efforts to increase vocations, support our seminaries, and assist our clergy families, these numbers show that the Orthodox Church in America is well-positioned to raise up clergy to meet and exceed our projected needs."
Analysis
As shared in the data report, the OCA has a total of 683 parishes (parishes, missions, and mission stations across three countries), 118 of which are without a rector. From the release:
It must be remembered these vacancies may have any number of causes: they may be temporary, or they may be due to very small numbers, great remoteness, and so forth. Some of these communities may be drawing near to closure due to geographic and demographic realities; it should not be assumed that all or even most of these vacant parishes are prepared to support a priest, even on a somewhat limited basis.
Regardless of how these numbers are dressed up, it is difficult to call this anything other than a shortage. When a parish doesn't have a priest, no matter where they are located or how much money they have, the point remains that the community has a significant lack.
More from the release:
A total of 124 currently active priests are at or above the conventional age of retirement (65 years). This number represents 25% of all priests. Considering the matter slightly differently, 109 priests are presently serving at or above the age of 67, which is the Full Retirement Age, as defined by the United States Social Security Administration, for people born in 1960 or later. That number represents 22% of all priests.
The total number of active priests aged 55 – 64, who will achieve retirement age within the next 10 years, is 107, or 21% of the entire number of active priests. Meanwhile, we note that the number of priests below the age of 44 is only 102, which is 20% of the total number.
Again, this poses a serious issue — one that the OCA itself acknowledged in a 2020 piece titled, "Vocation as a Church-wide endeavor." In that piece, the OCA said it was facing a priest shortage. From the article:
"What is immediately noticeable is that a total of 191 priests are presently serving in post-retirement age. This number represents 30% of all priests.
Another noteworthy data point is the number of priests who are drawing close to retirement age, age group 55-64. The total number of priests serving in that age group and that will enter retirement age in 5-10 years is 148, or 23% of the entire number of active priests. Meanwhile, we note that priests below the age of 44 are only 141, that is 22% of the total number.
There are currently 36 Master of Divinity students from the Orthodox Church in America enrolled at Saint Vladimir’s and Saint Tikhon’s Seminaries, and who will graduate over the next three years. That is an average of 12 potential priests per year. This rate is, therefore, insufficiently meeting the urgent priest shortage the Church is already experiencing today."
While the projected number of graduates from seminary has raised from 12 to 18 a year, this number is still insufficient, and it raises questions on why virtually the same reality was conveyed in such a different way just five years ago. There also appears to be an assumption that deacons "may one day be ordained to the presbyterate" which would help cover the gap, but this is guesswork and cannot be relied upon as concrete.
Looking even further down the road, numbers presented by the Orthodox Studies Institute indicate that the Church — regardless of jurisdiction — needs about 100 new priests each year. Accounting for growth while maintaining the current priest-to-parishioner ratio, the Church will need roughly 140 new priests per year. Finally, considering the creation of new parishes and missions, the Church will need around 300 new priests annually through 2040.
A recent talk by Fr. John Parker, Dean of St. Tikhon's Seminary, also acknowledges this reality. The description for the video even says that "one in four Orthodox parishes could be without a priest within five years," and that, if this is true, "the need for priests in America has never been greater."
Previously, UOJ reported that Orthodoxy is thriving among college students.
