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Is it Time to Leave? Assessing Your Church’s Stability
Orginally published on Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 8:44 AM
by Todd Rhoades
Last week, we started a multi-part series based on John Cionca’s book ”Before You Move: A Guide to Making Transitions in Ministry” by talking about the different red lights and green lights that you may receive as you consider a ministry move. Last week, we discussed how to assess your spiritual appetite. This week, we’ll look at what John has to say about how to assess the stability of your congregation, and how that might affect your possible ministry move. As shepherds of God’s flock of local believers, we need to be sensitive that there are times that we need to stay put and put the congregation’s health and well-being ahead of our own wishes. Sometimes there is a need just to stay and protect the flock. John gives some good examples of ‘red lights’ in this area…
1. Building Programs.It is recommended that pastors stay on during the completion of any building program, and for at least two years after completion of any expansion. Cionca says, "Whether in a expansion fulfills the minister's dream or drains most of his or her energy, a congregation will feel betrayed if the pastor takes off too quickly." This is particularly true if there was a large amount of indebtedness during the project.
2. Internal Conflict
Are there on-going problems that need to be resolved? If so, then it may be better to take care of them before you consider leaving. John's advice here: Determine the nature of the problem. If the problem is perenniel in the church, it's usually better that you stay and help correct the problem. If the problem is in relationship to you, then it's probably better to leave.
3. Staff Instability
Are there other staff problems that need to be addressed? What is in the church's best interest? Many times, it is better to resolve current staff openings or problems before you make a move yourself. This, again, is in the congregation's best long-term interest.
4. After Degrees or Sabbaticals
John says, "Credibility is lost and trust is eroded when the pastor leaves after a sabbatical or moves shortly after completing a degree program that the church helped finance. The congregation feels taken advantage of, and rightly so. And the next pastor will inherent distrust."
5. Other Major Internal Changes
Are there major changes going on internally? (Things such as adopting a new constitution, major programming changes, a change in worship style, etc.) If so, it may be best to stay until these major changes have some time to settle in your congregation.
John concludes, "If you sense that your congregation is vulnerable for any of the preceding reasons, then this red light tells you that it's best to remain for the time being. If the congregation seems balanced and stable, this signal indicates freedom to move."
What do you think? Have there been times you wanted to move, but have stayed on in the best interest of the congregation? Are you experienced times and situations where a pastor or leader left (and left things in utter chaos?) I'd love to hear your experiences. Just click the 'comments' link below.
And for tons more on this subject, pick up a copy of John's book. It's worth every penny!
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Hi... I'm Todd Rhoades. I'm a Christ-follower, husband, father and I love to connect leaders with other leaders. Hopefully you'll find something here at MMI you like and will return often. If you want, you can find out more about me or follow my every step on Twitter.
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Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 9:17 AM
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Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 12:07 PM
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Posted by Pastor David
Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 1:55 PM
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Posted by Bernie Dehler
Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 2:07 PM
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Tuesday, October 05, 2004 at 3:22 PM
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Wednesday, October 06, 2004 at 11:57 AM
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Thursday, October 07, 2004 at 2:46 PM
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Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 5:59 PM
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Monday, October 11, 2004 at 6:24 PM
Post Your Comments:I am in the middle of the Senior Pastor leaving as our denomination tries to make some Major shifts in worship style and language. We are on our second interim padstor and it is frustrating to watch as lay leaders do exactly what the senior pastor did and abandon ship.
Concerning staff instability, I’ve seen foolish moves made when a pastor hires a new associate for youth or music to ‘stabilize’ the church’s position then the pastor leaves for greener pastures. PLEASE DON’T DO THAT! It leaves the new minister vulnerable, makes him/her feel less than wanted, puts them in the position of having to lead the church, and they receive the outpouring of anger/hurt/remorse for the pastor leaving. Stabilize your church by solving current problems (helping staff ‘move on’ if necessary) then allow God’s next leader to come and assemble his staff - the church, staff, and new leader will be healthier for your wise decision.
We were in the middle of a move to a new location when our Senior Pastor resigned. We are left holding a two year lease and very little guidance. But God gave our body and awesome vision for what we are to be. So even though things could get tough we still see God’s vision for our Church and are candidating new pastors as we speak to guide and grow our vision for the glory of God…
It sounds like too much whining. Pastors aren’t the only ones with problems in their jobs, so deal with it. I have a full-time secular job, and I’m heading-up a ministry on a part-time basis, so I see the same problems in the secular workplace as well.
The key is leadership. If the head Pastor is a good leader, he’ll be mentoring junior pastors, that can either take-over for him at any time or leave and start other churches.
If the head Pastor is a poor leader, of course he can’t leave, because he has a constant mess to clean up.
The more autocratic the head Pastor is, the more reason he can’t leave, since everyone and everything depends on him. The more democratic-participative he is, the more he will have a strong team that can take over for him, or leave and start new churches.
...Bernie
http://www.FreeGoodNews.com
It was hard for me to stay as a worship pastor when I had a great opportunity to move to a church that was functioning well and in a town I always wanted to move to. I had to fire two people and re-organize a department in a church that had years of worship leadership issues that I inherited. It was best for the church for me to stay and finish the painful reconstruction of staff and systems even though I had little support and knew my time was up eventually.
That last year-and-a-half produced good fruit. I ended up being the longest tenured guy in the position to date (only three years, yikes) and after I left the things I left in place still work today, including the new staff. I had to suck it up, take being under-supported from the pastor and work very very hard. In the end, I am proud of what was accomplished and both parties are better off, not worse off.
Leaving is the necessaryt thing at times, but timing is indeed everything. It is never easy to stay when you have greener pastures and the relationships are sour, but when the best of the church is the goal, everybody will win in the end I beleive. After all, this is what we are called to as vocational pastors--the local church.
I was hired as the pastor of a church which was without a permannenet pastor for 10 years. I am encountering situations which I believe are due to the last permamnenet pastor and the temperament of the people here. They are not trusting or repectful to my pastorship. Many of my suggestions are not taken seriously and I if go ahead with a project it is considered a violationj of my promise to include them. These dissenters are few but very verbal.
I believe as pastors we will be tested by difficulties but we must get the support of the leadership of the church and move on in spite of the dissenters. I intend to stay and minister as God God gives me the wisdom and strength.
Greetings. Its tough being a Pastor! You have to be called or nuts! I left a great church in southern California because I was not allowed to join the church or be a Board member! My own church! You figure it out. All work, but no respect or support. I love the people there and it was a blessed ministry, but sad to say the Board had its own agenda aside from the pastoral leadership. Such is life!!!
When to move on? I just came back from lunch where we honored a man in our fellowship. He is retiring after 17 years with one church. No conflict. The building program was five years ago. The church is growing. He believes it is God calling him to retire and begin another stage of his life serving the Lord.
I believe the pastorate is like a marriage. It should be for the long haul - with all the ups and downs. I am with a Baptist church. Our by-laws required 75% to call a pastor. I prayed to God that I would get 100% as I did not want to start off with conflict. God answered that prayer. We have had major renovations, three major conflicts, major celebrations, and I even completed a degree. I did not leave my wife when we had major blow outs, had major house renovations, completed a degree, or celebrated 30 years of marriage. I can’t see myself leaving the church either until the church is ready and God is calling. I have 9 years of my life invested here and at least 15 more until age 65. God is good!
In the last two and half years, all our pastors left for other posts--one retired. I am the Minster of Music and have stayed on as the only stable ministeria l staff. I hvae been at this church for nearly 15 years. In 1999 the church asked me to submit my goals fo music ministry, which I did. Nothing happened. Earlier this year I was again asked to submit my goals and visions. I did and to my surpirse my 2004 goals and 1999 goals are almost identical. Still nothing happened. In the meantime, a new Pastor is called and the his salary is is 2 and a half times more than the past Senior Paster. Everybody in the church told me to not ask anything that has to do with money. Hoever, when I went on the website of our church and looked at the salary schedule and job dutues, i have been severerly underpaid. I am tired and discouaged. I want my church o grow but since I was first hired as “judt” the organist nad more and more duties are addeed to my work
I’m a Senior Pastor, in a rural setting. I have really been seeking God’s direction and will regarding is it time for me to move on. I’ve been Pastoring my current congregation for the past seven years. All minitries have stop working, and the people simply come to Sunday morning worship, I can’t seem to motivate the people to become a working Church: My church motto has always been a working church is a growing church.
I am in a support role in my church as minister of music and youth but I have also pastored. I have been in the ministry for 20 years. I can nolonger support my pastor as leader of this church and tere alreadyt is a group who has submitted a list of grievances but I don’t see anything being done so I feel like it is time for me to go to keep from it becoming him or me.
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