Dear Willow Guy,

Unless you’ve been on staff at Willow, you have nothing to do but speculate and gossip. I believe it’s not a good thing to think you know someone’s heart, especially when it comes to Christ’s church. Bill is no more than Willow’s Senior Pastor. The spiritual matters are led, and decided upon UNANIMOUSLY by the Elders, the day to day management is done by the Management Team and the Board of Directors oversees the physical and other non-spiritual workings of the church. Bill takes his orders from them. He is not a dictator. 

And as for Dr. B, do you not think the man has the right to retire? He has served God faithfully and due to health and age has chosen to retire. Trying to make something out of nothing is not Biblical. That goes for speculation that there is a “behind the scenes mess” going on. One thing that Willow has always done well is informing the congregation of what’s going on in the church. They do have open books and have always strived for excellence.

Maybe the “chickens” you think you see running around are volunteers making sure EVERYONE is informed.

Seems like you “attend” regularly, but haven’t really learned much.

Willow guy - you need to carefully consider just how Biblical your speech is in this blog.  You are showing disrespect in your speech.  I do not know your heart.  But I am extremely disappointed in your present conduct.  Do I need to quote the Scriptures to you about how to conduct yourself regarding those God has put in leadership in the church YOU choose to attend?

Eph. 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Is what you are saying building up the leaders of your church?  Are you being kind and compassionate?  Have you taken your concerns directly to a person who is responsible for “telling the whole truth?”

That is what I meant by Biblical speech.

I have never before in my life responded to any blog, but feel so compelled to respond to this one. I am a pastor’s wife (not senior) and often enjoy peeking into MMI on my husband’s email. We have left two churches under difficult circumstances, and because we desperately wanted to leave in a way that pleased God AND protected the church, we strived to leave with honesty, love and wisdom. We told the church that God was leading us elsewhere, but without saying anything that would damage the unity of the church or dishonor the pastor, God’s anointed, even if we didn’t share chemistry with him. This was difficult for us at times, when we were hurting so much personally, but we trusted God’s deep love for us and for the churches we served - that He had plans for us and for the church that wanted our obedience in order to come to fruition. Amazingly enough to us, God has not only protected us and the churches, but prospered us even more, putting us in places where we can bear even more fruit for the kingdom. To the point, there will always be questions that must be left unanswered, even for those most directly involved in difficult separations, but they lead us to the place where God is enough - where He is all in any situation. And that is worth more than having all the answers.

As a pastor I sometimes wonder about the nature of the “call.” By that I mean that we are sometimes called to stay somewhere for a long time and sometimes we are called to move on after a relatively short time. I have made four moves in twenty years and everytime with the exception of one move, it has ripped my heart out. I am sure that Gene Appel feels that same way today. He is probably somewhat perplexed at the timing of God’s newest call to walk away “to a place I will show you” when he has no idea where he will be going. I am thinking that the one thing he does know for sure is that it is time. The rest of it will remain a mystery until the Holy Spirit begins to lead again. We need to pray for him and others that we hear about in similar situations that their faith will be strong enough and their commitment to “the call” will be such that they can go simply because they trust God and live this life by faith, not sight.

I apologize to you Willow Staffer - I was a little short fused when I read your response. 

Bert (posting above) has said what I was trying to say all along (to bad you didn’t write it before I did or I wouldn’t have posted anything). 

So with that - I am not going to say anything else.

Todd - thanks for reminding me that I was getting off the point of responding to the article.  Sorry to you and to Willow Guy.

I am thankful for this on-line discussion.  It was quite the bombshell x 2 that was dropped at the service 2 weeks ago. I still hadn’t quite “recovered” from Mike Breaux leaving and then the announcement of both Randy and Gene too!!  Change is hard ... and so it’s helpful to see your comments and have this type of forum for discussion. 

Three key pastors leaving; coincedence?  They say it is; that each were called to other places and one doesn’t have to do with the other.  It’s hard to deny being curious if there’s something internal at Willow that’s up.  But I guess the wiser part of me says just leave it at what they said, don’t go looking for answers that I’m not prepared to hear, that aren’t really my business or won’t do me any good where I’m at on my journey anyway. I just have to think that God was at work with all of it; that there’s a bigger plan for the 3 of them and for Willow.

We love Gene!!!  He was the reason we stayed with Willow.  If John Ortberg was still around we would be long gone.  But truth is, his preaching has been steadily in decline since he started.  I suspected he enjoyed the day-to-day contact with church members in a smaller church setting.  Someone online has mentioned how well he remember someone’s name and family situation from ONE meeting several years back.  If he is such a people person, Willow may be too boring for him.  I’m the same kind of person, I know I would be too if you put me in his shoes. 

As for Willow, we feel the only downside is not personable enough.  Sure neighborhood groups are nice but you can’t assume people who live in the same neighborhoon will have a lot in common.  We are small business owners and we have nothing in common with our neighbors, from schedule to profession.  We crave people with similar backgrounds who can understand what we feel, and be able to get together with us during our off days.  We can’t find that at Willow.  We still love it and contribute a great deal.  But if we find a smaller church we may leave too.

I am wondering How four Pastors left if You include McHenry Campus, Is it God shaking the church? Im not here to really give the answer or question..I know for Our Pastor Bill Hybils, its must be a huge Mountain at this time. Growing Pains perhaps? Willow Creek is only a Young Man in His thirties You know?
Still a Young Church...Ive been attending on and off since it started..Its a wonder I haven’t applied for a Pastors Job...I like that You can Be a sinner and still go there(tongue in cheek) smiling! I like that Bill himself and other Pastors admit thier short comings, and
humble themselves often...Alot of church s go through splits and divisions , could this happen at Willow? Anything is possible. But As Bill taught today and its true and I know it personally, God works everything out for the good, to those that are His! The church is the Lords and God wil ultimately to with it as He wished...Leaders or no leaders.
Thats a good thing...so pray for Your selves and Pray for Willow and its leader(leaders) and staff...Im glad We have this church in our area..Thanks Lord!

As someone who has attended Son City, and then Willow Creek Church when it was actually at the Willow Creek Theater ) , then subsquently grown with the church through the past 30 or so years - I have come to know Bill Hybels as solid a leader (along with the elders) as they come.  I attended the service on 6/1/08 - one of the best I have ever heard him deliver and there have been some good ones.  That church is a very special place and while there have been mistakes (they are human after all) the message, mission and integrity of the leadership remain as it always has.  ROCK SOLID.  What we all have to do now is PRAY - pray that Bill has the strength and God’s help to lead, teach and run the Church until a new teaching staff is provided.  Willow is one of the most incredible gifts God has given us, don’t let rumors, hearsay or a few human mistakes poision what is otherwise an awesome place with a great foundation.