In this kickoff episode of The Bad Pastor Podcast, I’m answering the question I’ve been asked more times than I can count: Why did you leave full-time ministry?

This isn’t a deconstruction story or a resignation rant. It’s a conversation about calling, identity, and what happens when the role you were praised for starts to feel more like a costume than a calling.

We’ll unpack the difference between pastoring people and working for a church, the pressure to perform in ministry culture, and why stepping away wasn’t walking away — it was moving forward.

If you’ve ever questioned where you fit in the church machine, or felt like your soul didn’t match the title you carried… this one’s for you.