In Charlotte diocese, ranks of pastors decline amid surge in administrators

May 18, 2026

Intensifying a trend begun last year, a North Carolina bishop earlier this month appointed parochial administrators rather than pastors to lead eight of his diocese’s parishes, effective July 1.

A parochial administrator holds a temporary appointment rather than a stable office. Beginning on July 1 in the Diocese of Charlotte, seven priests will become administrators of the eight parishes, with one of the priests administering two parishes.

In June 2024, shortly after his episcopal ordination, Bishop Michael Martin, O.F.M. Conv., appointed six pastors and one parochial administrator to lead parishes; the parochial administrator replaced a pastor. Two years later, the parish and its mission are still led by a parochial administrator, according to the Diocese of Charlotte’s priest directory.

In May 2025, Bishop Martin appointed eight pastors and seven parochial administrators to lead parishes, as well as an eighth parochial administrator to lead a mission. Five of the eight parochial administrators replaced pastors, and a year later, all eight remain parochial administrators, with none since appointed a pastor.

The annual announcement of new summer assignments does not include changes made during the course of the year. According to the diocesan priest directory, which has not yet incorporated the newly announced assignments, the diocese currently has 64 pastors and 15 administrators, 14 of whom are listed as parochial administrators.

The new assignments will yield a net gain of five parishes led by parochial administrators, bringing the total to one-fourth of the diocese’s parishes.

In early 2024, before Bishop Martin’s episcopal ordination, the diocese had 76 parishes and 17 missions, with only one parish led by a parochial administrator, according to that year’s edition of The Official Catholic Directory.

At the time, the sole parochial administrator of a parish was administering the diocese’s largest parish in place of a pastor who had been accused of sexually abusing minors before his priestly ordination, as well as boundary violations in every parish in which he had served. In January, Bishop Martin returned the former pastor to active ministry in another assignment.

 

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Further information:

• 2026 priest assignments announced (Catholic News Herald, 5/6/26)
• Charlotte bishop returns accused priest to active ministry (CWN, 1/19/26)