Podcast Episode #566
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One of the most frequently asked questions we get asked relates to when it’s time to take a pastorate or leave one. Today we cover seven ways to sense it’s time to leave.
Some highlights from today’s episode include:
- One indicator that it’s time to move to a new pastorate is when you have a stronger and clearer vision for the new church than your current one.
- There’s always the risk of leaving a pastorate for greener grass when you really shouldn’t.
- Your family is your first line of ministry.
- You will always have some critics as a pastor. But when the opposition is insurmountable, it may be better for everyone to find another place of ministry.
The seven ways we discuss are:
- A sense of God’s calling
- A vision transfer to another ministry
- Family issues
- Insurmountable opposition at the current church
- A sense of completed ministry at the current church
- A calling away from local church ministry to another Christian ministry
- A calling into the secular marketplace
Resources mentioned in today’s podcast
Episode Sponsors
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Feedback
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I think another way is when this email reaches your mailbox.
For sure!
Gr
All 7 points seem to be spot on, especially #5. Staying longer than one should can erase all the good that has been done.
Years ago I heard Frank Pollard say, “A pastor will leave when he can no longer lead.” – Might be another bullet point for this list. Just a thought.
I’d like to know more about insurmountable opposition, specifically what makes opposition insurmountable? You mentioned all the deacons asking for a pastor’s resignation. That’s pretty clear. What if the opposition is from a small group of leaders who are not a majority, but have the force of personality or some other quality that makes the opposition very intense; the others are on the sidelines.
Having walked through that, all I can say is ask God for clarity. Was faced with some hard decisions 4 yrs ago at my current church where it came down to us having to make that call do we stay or walk away. God led me to preach from Isaiah 6 that next Sunday and in my preparation, I came to verses 11-13 which hit me like a board to the face. God wasn’t done with me where He had me and I am glad that I made that connection. We buckled down, rode out the storms, and the church today has exploded with growth both spiritually and physically. I can’t say stay or God knows. My prayer was God open the doors you want me to walk through and close and lock the doors you want me to steer clear of.
Isaiah 6:11-13 (ESV)
Then I said, “How long, O Lord?”
And he said:
“Until cities lie waste
without inhabitant,
and houses without people,
and the land is a desolate waste,
12 and the Lord removes people far away,
and the forsaken places are many in the midst of the land.
13 And though a tenth remain in it,
it will be burned again,
like a terebinth or an oak,
whose stump remains
when it is felled.”
The holy seed is its stump.
Another example from a smaller church: the patriarch/matriarch undercuts every action of leadership and they and other leaders are unwilling or unable to bring about change.
Interestingly, it need not be a majority who present the insurmountable opposition (active) but it can be a smaller group with influence that others can’t overcome.
Without trying to sound trite, if it feels insurmountable then it is. Another way to look at it – if a large amount of the pastor’s energy is devoted to something other than being a pastor, that could be a sign that the opposition is insurmountable.
When their hand is called, they are not as powerful as they often think.
Don’t be afraid to meet them on the church floor.
They are usually loud-mouth bullies.
Sometimes the deacons can be voted down on the church floor.
Been there; seen that.
Don’t campaign for yourself. Let the people do it. Most deacons I have seen are little more than cowards and bullies. They are counting on the fact that the pastor will run to save what is left of his career/family. They know that even if you win on the church floor, it is sometimes still a loss.
They can usually act as crazy as they want to and get by with it. I have seen people’s jobs threatened by “deacons” who wanted things on the church floor to pass and told the people who worked for them if they didn’t vote a certain way they would be fired. (1980’s).
When the “chips are down,” good folks will sometimes come out of the woodwork to put down a bunch of abominable hypocrites who “so discord among the brethren” and who have tried to choke the church for decades, sometimes.
If the “deacons” were spiritual enough to be leading the church, they would not try to be the church bosses.
If they indicate they think it is time, if they are even a little bit Christian, they will do what one of the most powerful men in my church did once: He came to me with another deacon and told me he thought it was time for me to leave.
But, he went on to say, “But, as long as you say it is God’s will for you to be in this church, I will support that. I will not try to force you to leave.” He attended every service from that time on, just like before.
He never acted unsupportive the rest of the time I was there. Neither did his family.
When his youngest daughter wanted me to officiate her sizeable wedding, he was center stage. His entire family were the sweetest and best.
He is in heaven now. I thank God upon every remembrance of him.
He was a “real” deacon with the heart of Christ, not a hypocritical demonic wolf in sheep’s clothing like some I have since seen.
Thanks all for your helpful replies. This is a situation that in the military we’d call ‘toxic leadership’. The elders have decided they are shepherding the church and not the pastors. Senior pastor is keeping his head down for the most part; I’m a staff pastor who’s on my own people and organization-wise. My wife and I have been praying a lot for clarity that so far isn’t there. I don’t have a sense that God is done with us here, at least not yet. I go between just buckling down and shepherding, and being angry and depressed about the situation, which stabilizes then gets worse. As I address the criticisms or show how they’re unjustified, the small power group finds something else to attack me on. At least one is staying to try to protect me and is ready to leave over my treatment. And it’s even worse than that; if I say anymore I risk exposing my identity. We’re relying on Jesus to see us through, but boy has it been rough.
You might want to find a book called “Leading Your Church Through Conflict and Resolution” (it’s probably available on Amazon). It has a wonderful chapter called “Wars You Can’t Win”, by Andre Bustanoby. He gives some guidelines on how to tell whether you’re in a no-win situation.
I’ve stayed longer than I should in the past which has left me hyper-sensitive to those promptings. All 7 are spot on and come at the right time for sure! Just more confirmation that I am not crazy for listening to God’s leading.
I’ve been on both sides of the pulpit One pastor told me the criticism is part of the job. Another told me to keep a diary of every visit, phone call, conversation and to keep the office door open (or made of glass) so anyone can see you while not knowing who I was talking with in the hidden corner.
Former Israeli leader Gold Myer said,’ Resign the day before they ask you to resign.’
Some denominations have a special department to liaison issues.
Saw a note in a baptist church calling on the pastor to a special meeting with the Deacons. (he was gone in 3 months and has dever recovered from the situation (and neither has the church.
Watch the news about super huge church pastors, resigning, getting fired, quitting etc. (egs Crystal Cathedral) My current minister makes over $100,000 per year plus six weeks vacation and I’m not sure what he does with his time, When as Pastor, it took me 10 years to make that kind of money + part time jobs)
Please skip the spiritual, God told me scat, check the state/provincial laws. (They trump church/denomination rules)