Why Eight in Ten Pastors Are Considering Quitting the Ministry

The study, commissioned by Jared Fabac to inform his upcoming book, Leading Lazarus, highlights a critical deficiency in traditional theological education. While seminaries prioritize homiletics and sermon preparation, they frequently neglect the practical mechanics of institutional leadership. Fabac argues that the attrition crisis stems from a lack of training in managing broken staff dynamics, facilitating difficult meetings, and cultivating healthy internal environments.

Data from the index reveals that 74 percent of those considering departure cite culture as their main frustration. Furthermore, 63 percent of respondents admitted they never received training on delivering difficult feedback, while 77 percent identified the ability to model and multiply culture as a missing skill in their professional development. Fabac, lead pastor of One City Church in Virginia Beach, suggests these findings confirm that the crisis is a systems failure rather than a decline in personal faith.