Why Your Pastor Left

Moments after our pastor exited the building that afternoon in 2008, most of the congregation sat in shock. A tiny—but powerful minority wore victorious smiles, at the ministers ousting. The lady to my left wept. Her pleading question kept me awake all night. “Why did our pastor have to leave?”

Polls reveal startling statistics regarding pastoral ministry: 91% of ministers know three to four others who've been forced out of pastoral positions. One-third of all pastors serve congregations who either fired the previous minister or actively forced their resignation. At any given time, 75% of pastors in America want to quit. More than 2000 pastors leave their ministry each month. American church decline has reached epidemic proportions. In the last century it has waned nearly 60%. Pastoral attrition is either an indicator of that problem, or is central to it.

Why Your Pastor Left is full of detailed statistics and identifies the top ten “Ministry Killers” that cause pastoral stress and eventual “burnout.”