Former Pastors Remaining Active at Church They Pastored

It can create divisions in the church. I know of churches where this happened because certain people were always looking to the retired pastor rather than the new pastor. As a general rule, I would say it is a bad idea practically speaking. The retired pastor can have a great ministry in his retirement, but it's practically helpful in many cases (if not most) for him to move somewhere and do it there. Give the new pastor a fresh start and let him pastor.

 

I think we need to remember it is not the pastors church but Christ's. We are His servants. Too many seem to think it is their church. God will take care of proud people. Three of those died in a church I pastored.

 

I think it has little to nothing to do with the former pastor. It has everything to do with the present members whose loyalty can be easily divided by the presence of a pastor they love. The new pastor will often find people looking to the old pastor to see if something is approved. That's not wise on any body's part.

I think people fail to understand the power that a long time pastor has in a congregation. That's a good thing when he is the pastor. It can be a very bad thing when he is not. And it has nothing to do with him.

This is utterly bizarre. Why is it that anytime someone suggests a wisdom principle that the big "L" word is brought out like a bat to bludgeon people who actually think about issues? For the life of me I can't understand why these types of disagreements are labeled legalism. It sounds like someone's pastor hasn't done a good job of teaching the Bible, because well taught people know what legalism is, and legalism is never a wisdom issue, and usually has nothing to do with lifestyle. It has to do with earning God's favor through obedience. That is not the issue here in any way.

Furthermore, please note that I didn't say we should tell a former pastor he could not continue. I can say that (1) I wouldn't do that to a new pastor and a church, and (2) I doubt very seriously that I would pastor a church where the former pastor remained in the congregation. I can see the wisdom in six months or a year of transition as a co-pastor, with the understanding that the reigns are being handed over at retirement on a set date.

I don't think it is a sin. I think it is unwise and unnecessary. The fact that it can work is not the issue. The issue is what is best for the church. In most cases, it is best that the new pastor be given free reign in the eyes of the church, and that usually necessitates the old pastor leaving.

 

I am much older than my pastor and have more education. He has never been threatened by me. I have taught several classes and has asked for my opinion a lot. People may ask my opinion on something and I suggest they talk with him. So it shows my support of the pastor. Personally when I was pastoring I liked retired pastors to come. They encouraged me and helped me. I find that most of the issues lies with the current pastor and his security. I was in another church years ago where six retired pastors attended the church and helped out.

If you are insecure the former pastor has too much power. If you are secure then he will notice and you will benefit from his encouragement and blessing.

In another church the pastor was insecure and we were glad to leave.

The church is not about power and control, but about love and reaching people.

 

Perhaps we are talking past each other here. I have never said anything about the new pastor being threatened by the former pastor, have I? That is completely irrelevant to the point I am making. I think security or insecurity could not be more of a non-issue here. I am completely confused as to why you are bringing that up in response to me.

I think it would be great to have a retired pastor come and help. I would welcome that.

I don't think so. I think it lies with the congregation.

Again, please read the point: It is not about either the new pastor or the former pastor. It is about the congregation.

Unfortunately we live in a fallen world, and the reality is that many immature believers make it about power and control. It doesn't matter to them that the new pastor is good. It matters to them what the former pastor thinks, because he is "their pastor." So as long as that pastor is around, there are divided loyalties because they will constantly be looking to him. We can hate that, and dislike it. We can curse it and condemn it. But that's the way it is.

That's why, in wisdom, the former pastor needs to move on and get in a church where he can help out. He needs to take the initiative to lead on this matter.

 

It seemed that you were talking about control issues and who is leading.

I think it is both, but led by the pastors involved. If the former pastor introduces the new pastor that would be great. He must refrain from dealing with people until he has the approval and support of the new pastor.

I did an internship where I was a better preacher and more educated than the pastor. When people came to me and told me that I should be the pastor I told them that God has not called me to be the pastor there. Later the pastor became very sick and many times when I preached I pointed out how he was a tremendous blessing to me and the things I learned from him.

I disagree in that people watch how the pastors deal with each other. That sets the tone for how people respond.

My wife and I were in a church and the pastor gave the associate pastor more and more responsibility. Then one Sunday he announced who their new pastor was. There have been many times since the former pastor died that the current has credited his success because of the previous pastor's support and encouragement. That same church went from about 140 in attendance to about 2200 in six years. I really think it was because of a transition that God did. The former pastor's family and their spouses and children work in the church doing ministry. They are very active. It is as if the former pastor is still alive in many ways. Nobody could say anything about how the former pastor did something different because he blessed the new pastor in front of the congregation.

I think it is in how everything is handled.

Knowing God is in control and that God blesses those who do His will is a huge benefit to a church. Where people are proud and do not see God as being in control then they do not experience God's blessing.

At the church I attend now there were several times since the new pastor came, and I was asked a lot of questions by people in the congregation. In every case I supported him and encouraged the people as they went through certain adjustments. In almost every case I disagreed with the person and agreed with the pastor. The former pastor had been in the church for 33 years. This is the first church of being a senior pastor for the current pastor. I tend to think I helped the situation.

 

I agree with this.

Requirements for it to work, IMHO:

• Both pastors checking their egos at the door:
  • The new one needs to realize there will always be folks who were closer to your predecessor...who liked his preaching better...or maybe he was the pastor who baptized their son.
  • The old one needs to realize that things will be different. And some will like the new guy's way better.
• The old pastor must take great care in knowing when it is not appropriate to speak--or offer opinion. And he must not undercut or undermine the authority of the current pastor.
• The new pastor should wisely capitalize on the old pastor's gifts and abilities--this isn't exactly the same, but we have a retired pastor in our church who we use quite often for adult Bible studies and the like. It uses his gifts,a nd meets our churhc's needs.
• The church needs to remember that there's been a leadership change, and act accordingly.

 

Just to make sure you are clear, my point is not that it "never" works. It can work. It is possible. It is simply unwise in my estimation for a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with the pastors involved.

You speak of a ex-pastor who never took sides. That is part of the problem. By refusing to take the side of the new pastor, he creates doubt about leadership and introduces uncertainty and a reason to doubt the new pastor. He has to take sides and that side is, "He's the new pastor, I am following him and you must too. You should not come to me with issues." When someone comes to him, he should immediately refuse to talk to them about any issues dealing with leadership. He should go with them to the new pastor to demonstrate who is in charge.

This creates a very difficult situation that is simply unwise to indulge in.

 

I am not sure how knowing "the whole story" would change the general principle of wisdom.

My point is that when he did not come down on the new pastor's side, it can give the impression that he was against it. Silence communicates that in some cases.Again, it's fine. It really doesn't matter. I think it is a wisdom principle, and I think both new pastors and former pastors need to think very carefully about the good of the body rather than just themselves here.

 

I've had so many retired pastors and denominational ministers in my congregations over the years that I can't even begin to count them all.

The majorityI enjoyed and was glad they were a part of my church.

There was a minority who should have started a new church for just themselves and their wives. :laugh:

 

Again just to clarify, I would love this situation. My comments are directed to the specific situation of a pastor retiring and immediately staying in the same church that he pastored but no longer as a pastor.

 

I'm dealing with this now, and no, i think they should move on. Early on i thought it was a blessing to have him around, especially so that i can learn who was who, make hospital visits with him, etc...but since then, sadly, he has managed to undermine my leadership along with another retired pastor/chaplain in our congregation.

 

My final contribution to this area. I do not believe it is a question of a former pastor remaining in a church he may have pastored for many years. It is a question about the man himself. Can he sit in a pew and be quiet? Can he control himself in that church and worship God, and not try to control anyone else.

I seldom call myself a former pastor; others do, and I pass it over. I am just a parishioner.

If I can do that, there is no problem with my remaining in that church.

Cheers,

Jim