Is there life after the pastorate?

Welcome to the Ex-Pastor's web page. This page is dedicated to the thousands of pastors who have left the institutional church and/or who are on their way out.

Note: If you are an ex pastor or a struggling pastor who resonates with the testimonies below, please write us at  hc_resource AT yahoo DOT com. Plans are in the works to help you further, so we need to know how to contact you. When you write, please tell us how you found out about our site.

What follows are testimonials from men who made a clean break from their clergy positions. None of these men left the Lord. Instead, they found Him in ways that went beyond what they had ever experienced as professional pastors.

If you are part of the professional pastorate, and you're struggling with the idea of leaving . . . or you have left . . . we encourage you to read their stories.

If you are having a hard time finding work outside of the religious system, you may find the "Ex-Pastor's Survival Guide" of particular help.

For more information, see Chapter 5 of Pagan Christianity (Frank Viola and George Barna, Tyndale, 2008). This chapter traces in detail the origins of the modern pastoral office. Not a few pastors have had a crisis of conscience after reading this chapter.

You may also contact some of the expastors who have given their testimonials here. Just follow the directions at the bottom of the page. As one person said, "It's lonely at the top."

If you are an ex-pastor and you'd like to contribute your story, please submit it to hc_resource AT yahoo DOT com.

     Sincerely in Christ,

     Alan Levine, Milt Rodriguez, Frank Viola, and Jon Zens

Leaving "God's Work" to Discover Christ by Alan Levine

A More Gradual Journey Out of the Pastorate by Jon Zens

Kicked Out of the Nest by John White

Losing My Old Identity to Find My Lord by Lance Ford

Why I Left the Pastorate by Gary Welter

Candid Letters from Pastors Having a Crisis of Conscience: Part 1

Candid Letters from Pastors Having a Crisis of Conscience: Part 2

New Wine for a New Wine Skin by Terry Jarbo

An Ex-Pastors Survival Guide

A Job Possibility for Ex-Pastors

Post-Pastor Occupations

An Ex-Pastors Encouragement to Others