"To leave the ministry" means to stop working as a religious leader, such as a priest, pastor, or minister, and no longer fulfill the duties and responsibilities associated with that role. Full definition
It is especially difficult when leaving the ministry wasn't the pastor's idea. (nakedpastor.com)
This cartoon raised quite a flurry when I first published it just after leaving the ministry last year. (nakedpastor.com)
The top five conflict issues cited by pastors who left ministry were pastoral leadership style, church finances, changes in worship style, staff relationships and building projects. (religion-online.org)