Burnout of pastors in church-based ministry continues to occur despite efforts to stem it. The diminishing effectiveness and functioning of pastors are a threat to the church and society as a whole and can come at a significant financial and emotional cost to pastors, their families and all they serve. Despite efforts to identify the causes of burnout and features that would prevent it and build resilience, the problem and frequency continue. Most research has focused on internal and external factors, but very little has focused on underlying cultural and systemic issues. This study originated from the desire to explore pastors’ understandings of the leadership culture in ministry and whether there are connections that can be drawn with their experience of burnout. This study uses a qualitative phenomenological design to uncover the meaning and essence of pastors’ leadership experiences in ministry and the scope to which cultural understandings bind it. It is hypothesised that pastors’ cultural understandings of leadership in ministry are instrumental in influencing their ministry behaviour and subsequent determinants, leading to burnout. It is anticipated that these results will address a gap in the literature on pastoral burnout. Resulting in continued research by Australian theological colleges and denominational church leaders in developing more adaptive leadership models for pastors.