Measuring the Level of Pastors’ Risk of Termination/Exit from the Church – Page 1 Validating a Practitioner’s Instrument Measuring the Level of Pastors’ Risk of Termination/Exit from the Church: Discovering Vision Conflict and Compassion Fatigue as Key Factors J. Louis Spencer, ABD; Bruce E. Winston, Ph.D.; and Mihai C. Bocarnea, Ph.D Regent University Charles A. Wickman Director – Pastor in Residence This study conducts an exploratory factor analysis on the Pastors at Risk Inventory developed by Wickman (2004) that measures the likelihood that members of the clergy may be at risk of forced or unforced resignation from their ministries. An online survey was administered to 285 evangelical pastors containing 42 Likert-type items that address issues developed from 20 years of qualitative practitioner ministry among clergy. The two factors that were identified—vision conflict and compassion fatigue—are discussed in terms of their discriminant value among extant literature and in their unique function with clergy. This study indicates that varying levels of disparity typically exist between perceived ministry outcomes and actual ministry experiences. This study also shows that numerous stressors connected with the roles served by clergy contribute to feelings of vision conflict and compassion fatigue as well as that clergy who experience vision conflict and compassion fatigue are more likely to lack a support team and/or serve in a church that has plateaued or declined in attendance recently. Further qualitative study among clergy will be needed to advance the development of the instrument that is presented and validated here. Clergy are leaving the ministry in greater numbers than ever before (Beebe, 2007; Hoge & Wenger, 2005; Lehr, 2006; Palser, 2005) as a significant and increasing cross-section of evangelical clergy express a growing sense of spiritual, physical, emotional, and social bombardment (London & Wiseman, 2003; Wells, 2002). Collateral contributors to clergy fall-out include such issues as interpersonal disagreements with parishioners, role overload, lack of personal and professional boundaries, loss of hope for positive change, and financial pressure (Beebe, 2007; Wickman, 2004). Unfortunately, these conditions present themselves as typical liabilities within pastoral ministry (Kisslinger, 2007; London & Wiseman, 2003). This study validates a new instrument developed by a practitioner that measures unique factors that contribute to clergy’s experience of being at risk of either forced or unforced resignation. By identifying these factors, the purposeful development of prevention and remediation strategies may arise to address the phenomena associated with pastors at risk. A Practitioner’s Observation and Analysis of At-Risk Phenomena The genesis of the present quantitative research began with a qualitative study of pastors of the Evangelical Free Church of America by Chuck Wickman (1984) that examined the reasons for career change from church to secular work. Wickman’s initial investigation was extended