Staying in the pulpit

[Revmitchell]

I thought "God called me somewhere else."
That's the common reason given.

UH no that is a general description without being specific.

 

[Pastor Sam]

Let's not assume pastors change churches because of their own decision. The vast majority times pastors change churches has to do with small churches who eat pastors for supper.

Very true some deacon eat Pastor for breakfast. I had one who used me as a whipping post. He finally left the church because he couldn’t deal with the number of people who loved me and stood behind me. The whipping he gave me only made me stronger.

 

[TCassidy]

Many of these pastors who are eat up which are young and new find other things to do.

The one before me is now selling music, and the one before him now works in a hospital. Both were driven out of the ministry by a clique who thought they were in charge. And that is sad.

After about two months one of the clique leaders, a women whose (deceased) husband had been the contractor who built the main auditorium building came into my office and demanded I resign. She kept saying "You have to go. You have to go!"

I told her I would stay until God made it clear it was time for me to move on, and if she and her clique wanted me gone they would have to kill me as the only way for me to leave would be feet first!

I had been out knocking on doors and bringing in new people so that after a few month the new people outnumbered the old clique so they could no longer dominate every business meeting.

27 years ago not one of them was still alive.

 

[TCassidy]

Very true some deacon eat Pastor for breakfast.

When I first started as pastor the chairman of the deacons ran the business meetings and styled himself as the "President of the Corporation."

After the second time he refused to allow me to voice my opinion at a business meeting, I stood up and said "You good people will have to decide right how who is the pastor, John or me?"

One of the new converts stood and made a motion that I was pastor and thus should chair the business meetings. The "President" ruled the motion out of order. The majority of the people stood up and said, "Aye" anyway.

When it was obvious that most of the congregation stood with me he walked out and I never saw him again. I mean never. He disappeared. Even his family had no idea where he went. He was just gone.

 

[Pastor Sam]

The one before me is now selling music, and the one before him now works in a hospital. Both were driven out of the ministry by a clique who thought they were in charge. And that is sad.

After about two months one of the clique leaders, a women whose (deceased) husband had been the contractor who built the main auditorium building came into my office and demanded I resign. She kept saying "You have to go. You have to go!"

I told her I would stay until God made it clear it was time for me to move on, and if she and her clique wanted me gone they would have to kill me as the only way for me to leave would be feet first!

I had been out knocking on doors and bringing in new people so that after a few month the new people outnumbered the old clique so they could no longer dominate every business meeting.

27 years ago not one of them was still alive.

Good for you you sound like a keeper.

 

[Pastor Sam]

When I first started as pastor the chairman of the deacons ran the business meetings and styled himself as the "President of the Corporation."

After the second time he refused to allow me to voice my opinion at a business meeting, I stood up and said "You good people will have to decide right how who is the pastor, John or me?"

One of the new converts stood and made a motion that I was pastor and thus should chair the business meetings. The "President" ruled the motion out of order. The majority of the people stood up and said, "Aye" anyway.

When it was obvious that most of the congregation stood with me he walked out and I never saw him again. I mean never. He disappeared. Even his family had no idea where he went. He was just gone.

Praise God that is great!

 

[TCassidy]

Good for you you sound like a keeper.

I was senior pastor there for 27 years. I am now retired due to health issues (and being in my 70s). A young man who had been my associate for 15 years stepped into the senior pastor position without a single ripple. Everybody knew him and loved him. And he is doing a great job.

 

[Revmitchell]

The one before me is now selling music, and the one before him now works in a hospital. Both were driven out of the ministry by a clique who thought they were in charge. And that is sad.

After about two months one of the clique leaders, a women whose (deceased) husband had been the contractor who built the main auditorium building came into my office and demanded I resign. She kept saying "You have to go. You have to go!"

I told her I would stay until God made it clear it was time for me to move on, and if she and her clique wanted me gone they would have to kill me as the only way for me to leave would be feet first!

I had been out knocking on doors and bringing in new people so that after a few month the new people outnumbered the old clique so they could no longer dominate every business meeting.

27 years ago not one of them was still alive.

I was told by the 'matriarch' that she was going to come to the parsonage and pack my sXXX and send me back to Florida.

 

[Revmitchell]

Very true some deacon eat Pastor for breakfast. I had one who used me as a whipping post. He finally left the church because he couldn’t deal with the number of people who loved me and stood behind me. The whipping he gave me only made me stronger.

When I go to where I am currently at I had one man who was the Treasurer, chairman of deacons and trustee. His wife was the secretary. she used to call me "boy". they are no longer here.

 

[Revmitchell]

When I first started as pastor the chairman of the deacons ran the business meetings and styled himself as the "President of the Corporation."

After the second time he refused to allow me to voice my opinion at a business meeting, I stood up and said "You good people will have to decide right how who is the pastor, John or me?"

One of the new converts stood and made a motion that I was pastor and thus should chair the business meetings. The "President" ruled the motion out of order. The majority of the people stood up and said, "Aye" anyway.

When it was obvious that most of the congregation stood with me he walked out and I never saw him again. I mean never. He disappeared. Even his family had no idea where he went. He was just gone.

So the moral to that story is don't mess with Tom or you will disappear.

 

[Reynolds]

When I first started as pastor the chairman of the deacons ran the business meetings and styled himself as the "President of the Corporation."

After the second time he refused to allow me to voice my opinion at a business meeting, I stood up and said "You good people will have to decide right how who is the pastor, John or me?"

One of the new converts stood and made a motion that I was pastor and thus should chair the business meetings. The "President" ruled the motion out of order. The majority of the people stood up and said, "Aye" anyway.

When it was obvious that most of the congregation stood with me he walked out and I never saw him again. I mean never. He disappeared. Even his family had no idea where he went. He was just gone.

Out of curiosity, who did the bylaws designate to preside over business meetings?

 

[TCassidy]

Out of curiosity, who did the bylaws designate to preside over business meetings?

They didn't. The Bylaws required three trustees to report to the state annually, but did not designate who they would be.

I fixed that as soon as possible. The pastor is now the moderator of all business meetings and is an ex-officio member of all committees.

If he is not able to attend the Chairman of the Deacons presides.

 

[TCassidy]

So the moral to that story is don't mess with Tom or you will disappear.

I'm not sure if it was me, the Lord, or time. All of them were older than me. I was only 38 when I took that pastorate.

 

[David Kent]

The pastor at my daughter's previous church in London, retired after serving since he was a young man, He said he would stay and help them choose a new pastor. When the new pastor was inducted, he stayed on. I said you are going to find it difficult, but he said that he would be happy to hand over.
After a year or so, there arose a disagreement between the old and new pastors. The old pastor was supported by a number of his family and friends and the new pastor resigned. At that time the deacons left the church as well as many members. My son in law and another man were proposed as deacons, but both were not elected and both resigned.

My daughter and family moved to the home town of her husband and the church he was brought up in. A few months before they moved , the new pastor from the London church was invited to the pastorate of the church they would be going to and as he knew they would be going there, he asked my son in law what he thought. he answered "I would be delighted." he has served well for several years, and sometimes comes and takes our mid week bible study. He led it this evening in fact.

 

[Pastor Sam]

When I go to where I am currently at I had one man who was the Treasurer, chairman of deacons and trustee. His wife was the secretary. she used to call me "boy". they are no longer here.

Praise the Lord

 

[Pastor Sam]

I'm not sure if it was me, the Lord, or time. All of them were older than me. I was only 38 when I took that pastorate.

I believe that God will give them their due. I wonder sometimes what their real motives are.

 

[Revmitchell]

Praise the Lord

Alrighty then!

 

[Pastor Sam]

The pastor at my daughter's previous church in London, retired after serving since he was a young man, He said he would stay and help them choose a new pastor. When the new pastor was inducted, he stayed on. I said you are going to find it difficult, but he said that he would be happy to hand over.
After a year or so, there arose a disagreement between the old and new pastors. The old pastor was supported by a number of his family and friends and the new pastor resigned. At that time the deacons left the church as well as many members. My son in law and another man were proposed as deacons, but both were not elected and both resigned.

My daughter and family moved to the home town of her husband and the church he was brought up in. A few months before they moved , the new pastor from the London church was invited to the pastorate of the church they would be going to and as he knew they would be going there, he asked my son in law what he thought. he answered "I would be delighted." he has served well for several years, and sometimes comes and takes our mid week bible study. He led it this evening in fact.

I will kept your family in my prayers

 

[Billx]

Apparently a pastor only stays in a church for 3-5 years.
Granted, there are some who stay for decades - ie Stanely - 40+ years

So why do pastors tend to leave a church after just a short time.

Open for discussion

I can only speak for what I have experienced or viewed. Pastors leave because they have run the ship aground. It is usually not the ship was going to run aground anyway but rather the new pastor abruptly changed her heading. It is the change in heading which created chaos. Prior to this they were happy swabbies and without a proper building up of shareing information between the congregation and the he who is he helmsman. It may be a brief encounter but even if he is a song and dance man crosscurrents cannot change most of the time. They just get bigger. How big? That depends upon how much damage was done by the degree of changing course. Most of this simple indiscretion will never be forgiven and surfaces when the pastor is presenting new course corrections. It has become difficult for pastoral navigation and the pastor choses to find easier work. Most of the time without examination of self.

The others is the pastor's wife. She is not what the people expected. Maybe it is her attitude toward faith. Remember she is not the minister, when in actuality the pastors wife has a closer relationship to parish woman than Mr. Pastor. When her persona is even tarnish in the ladies minds she loses her luster and becomes unhappy. After a while of freeze out the wife is ready to leave. Remember it is the ladies of the church hire pastor and through their husbands carry a lot of clout.

I have another idea. The pastor gets bored. there is not enough work and he has to remain at their beckon and call. HIs boredom is he can do a good sermon in a day or two, if a special need occurs like a death he become central figure again and feels useful again but the is short lived.Over years of experience he learns to study the word of God. Deeply, carefully. It was not till I recognized I was a typical Rabbi. My value was to be able to teach, answer difficult questions. There is no answer to bordom but enlarge the job description and look at the sheep and their needs.

I have lived through these transitions and just love the work.

 

[Billx]

I was sleeping with the church secretary for 27 years. Of course I married her 42 years ago.

What a great statement! I live it. My wife refuses any idea I should ever be alone with a woman. Even a female employee. I am almost 75 and looking to find not another wife but another church. I think I like the wife she will last longer than the church