I have a concern that I want to address. Some of the names, situations, scenarios, etc. have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty. Nonetheless, the principle is pretty much the same. This one really bothers me.
There is a preacher/pastor that I know here in the area who--believe it or not--is a VERY gifted preacher, though many may have never even heard of him before. If you haven't, you WILL. He is a solid preacher who not only is one of the BEST expositors I know but can even 'pull it' if led in that direction. Quite often, this Pastor has been offered to serve pastorates in congregations both large and small. Interestingly, he always remained faithful to his present flock. Parenthetically, I KNOW this congregation very well, and have known many in this congregation to really give this leader and previous leaders a very hard time. About 8 or so months ago, my Pastor friend was extended and ACCEPTED the call to Pastor another congregation in a suburb of Houston. Incidentally, the new congregation is MUCH larger than the congregation he served for almost 12 years. When this pastor accepted the call and announced this to his congregation, regrettably the news was NOT taken well at all. He has received death threats (can you imagine?), public and private attacks against his family and children and accused of being an 'opportunist' who 'jumped at a better chance' and just walking away from them and 'abandoning' them without any forewarning, etc. Being good friends with this Pastor; I 'know' he loves his old congregation. And though he has now made the transition to the new congregation, and though he knows that he has followed God's lead and direction; it has and is still hurting him that the people he has loved, pastored and cherished for almost 12 years, has vilified he and his family and continues to accuse him of 'going to the highest bidder' when nothing, in his view, could be further from the truth. He has even contemplated stepping down from his new pastorate, in that it has negatively affected his transition and new church family.
I know I asked a question last week. But I want to ask another - how would you either handle this situation if you were this pastor; OR what advice would you give this Pastor if you had the opportunity to counsel and/or minister to him? I am very curious to know what your thoughts and advice would be to this pastor. Thanks.!
6 comments:
This is a pregnant question, and while time and space won't allow me to fully respond the way I desire, I'll take a stab at it.Sometimes churches that extend a call for us to serve as pastor, fail to realize that we were never their's in the beginning. Consequently, after a while they tend to become possessive, and in some cases violent, like a man or woman who invests lots of time into a relationship, and all of a sudden it changes. Regardless of the size of the new church there will always be hard feelings because after all "what do they have that we don't." I know this feeling firsthand, trust me its never easy leaving a place you love to follow God's lead. Nothing you say will make the pain go away speedily, but we have to trust that God will help us and at the same time heal them.
Pastor McGhee has given a great answer. This is exactly like a "marriage" between Pastor and People. The husband (Pastor)has left the wife for another and she (the church) is left many times with all the emotions of a relationship desolved for whatever reason. Anger, hurt, resentment, even threats of physical violence is not uncommon in a relationship as strong and binding as this.
Since this is a Divine union and it's commission to go or except is ordered by God you would think the family of believers would understand that the Pastor is there for a time and a season for as long as God sees fit. They should immediately go down in prayer for the church, the former Pastor, and the one God will send next to shepherd them.
Since the Pastor who is going to a new congregation should know all this, he should understand there is NOTHING he can do or say. Just go about lovingly tying up all loose ends at the church he is leaving. Follow Gods lead in becoming the Shepherd God wants him to be where he is going.
God is always preparing us (where we are now)to go higher and righteously triumph(in the next place) in all aspects of our emotional, physical, and spiritual endeavors.
VlpSongbird
Proverbs 3:5&6
Pastor McGhee is correct in every facet of his answer, and I couldn't have said it better myself. I too have had to leave a church and there were many members who were hurt and upset, however if they are spiritual, then they will react in a spiritual way. The problem is that hardly ever happens.
Lance
I agree with both Andre' and Lance. It is a tough situation. My experience with people has taught me that while they will be mad in the moment, people generally get over the hurt. I would encourage your Pastor-friend to stay focused and faithful in serving the the present congregation...and pray for his former church.
I agree with the brothers!! It hurts the Pastor when the People leave as well as it hurt the People when the Pastor leaves.
One thing we must all remember whether Pastor or People, we are given to each other by stewardship and not for ownership!
We will be praying for both Pastor and People !!!
This is an excellent question and great responses. I will simply concede to the general sentiment of everyone who has answered in such a thorough way. I will say that it is sad that congregations respond negatively when the Pastor is favored and blessed according to his faithfulness in stewardship. If I could talk with this Pastor, I would exhort him NOT to commit the aweful sin and shameful act of disobeying and disregarding the Lord. Since he knows it was God who opened this opportunity and led him to go, it would be dangerous to step down now. I would rather a few bitter past parishioners than to suffer the fallout from the retribution of a Sovereign God.
Post a Comment