About one and a half years ago, the pastor of my church resigned and went to another church. When he left, many others also left. The small church of 70 people dwindled down to about 40 rather quickly. As I watched more and more of the people I had usually sat next to disappear from our life together I wondered why I even stayed.
Pastors play an undeniably important role in the life of our churches. Their leadership, or lack thereof, shapes the local church. The focus and style of their teaching set the standard. As such, some churches have become personality driven churches, making the most of the presence of the pastor. In these churches, most people go to hear the preacher. It's a let down when s/he's not preaching that week.
I've moved around a lot and have been involved in personality driven churches and even a congregation which had no pastor, only a team of elders. Recently, I've been debating with myself what the ideal role of the pastor should be in terms of the members' commitment to that local body of believers. So let me ask you this question: Would you leave your church if the pastor left on good terms? What is your understanding of your commitment to the other members of the local church you attend?
Comments (7)
No. We are part of the church not part of the pastor. We should all be playing important roles in our communities of faith. It should always be difficult if someone leaves but it should never destroy us or divide us. If someone leaves it should be incredibly and said due to death or disobedience or exceptionally joyful due to death or other ministry opportunities.
We need to have a better understanding of spiritual gifts and what it means to be the church and how to function as a community of people who have the same aim (following Christ/Worshiping G-D). We should function in such a way that we fail if we aren't all helping out. Community is never an easy thing.
We are selfishly too dependent upon leaders. We outsource or faith and works. It's not right.
Lay people are undereducated and not given enough opportunity to be significant in their communities of faith. This is the fault of both the leadership, our faulty traditions, and ourselves for not talking and acting in ways that will challenge us. Our focus is too much on church and programs and not enough on identity and nourishment.
If someone leaves their congregation based on their own preferences (likes and dislikes) or because a leader they like leaves then they are not dedicated to the Bride of Christ but to themselves. I don't see any way around these truths.
@quest4god@revelife - Am I right to guess that you were replying to TheGreatBout? I don't think my last paragraph had much in the way of content! :)
@TheGreatBout -
Except for the last paragraph, I agree with this post. Rather than attributing certain motives to others' actions, it would be much better to talk to them yourself to see if there is any way you could dissuade them from leaving...or at least you would have the reason for their leaving from their own lips - right?
The other thing that I'm sure you know well is that we are, as was Timothy, instructed to "study to show (ourselves) approved unto God, rightly dividing the Word of truth." As for opportunity, it may be that, if we go to the pastor or leader of a certain ministry and offer ourselves to serve, we may be surprised to be taken up on it! (If not, there are untold opportunities to serve somewhere else that will benefit the members of the Body of Christ and be an answer to God's call without actually leaving our church.)
@soy_esteban - Sorry about that. I failed to click on "reply" on The Great Bout's comment.
@quest4god@revelife - Yes. I'm just saying, since we are speaking in hypothetical terms, that if the reason for a person leaving a congregation is solely based on someone else leaving, they don't have the Body of Christ in mind but rather their own comfort or familiarity to certain persons.
I think it depends on the situation. In general, I agree with Great Bout that there is a lot of focus, often too much, on the leadership. On the other hand, there are a few churches here in the city where I live in Ukraine where there is a board of elders but there hasn't been a functioning pastor for years. People who seem to be acting as pastors have other things on the side and don't want the official position, though they play the part. They are kind of playing politics, controlling the situation but avoiding responsibility. I wouldn't want to be in such a church. In my church, if the pastor leaves I will leave because I am the pastor :)
@templestream - "If the pastor leaves will leave because I am the pastor." Ditto.