The "Previous Pastor" won't leave..

I was interim for a year in a church where the pastor had just retired. He founded the church in a small town, built his own home in town and had no intention of moving on.

It worked well though I would guess there was restraint on his lips when things didn't go the way he would have liked, but there was no problem.

When I left he took us to dinner and we had a nice visit, he seemed to be at peace with his situation.

In many cases there is not other church for a person to go to in small towns and why should they have to move from their home of many years?

Now, if he causes waves -- well that is quite another thing :-(

 

I have seen it as well. Sometimes it works out, more often it doesn't, as the most elder pastor often is the key influencer of the people, robbing the authority of the new man.

Perhaps the most famous national case is where Bob Russell of Southeast Christian Church remains at the church while the pastoral reins are handed over to Dave Stone. I mention this church because it is the 5th largest congregation in the United States, so it is a well known example. Also, Bob Russell wrote a great book detailing pastoral succession that could be used as a model program in many a church.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/0982720491/?tag=baptis04-20

Oh, and yes, I well understand the theological issues with the Christian Church. I don't intend for my remarks to generate that discussion, as this thread is about transition of leadership.

 

Is he a source of trouble for you? If he is, you need to speak to him with respect because he probably had the respect of a class of sr adults who are influential in the church.

Why have the previous pastors left? Did they leave because of him? In Baptist life, probably the FBC, Dallas where they called a few "future pastors" but with ol' Wally Criswell still there, they were doomed to failure.

There is very little other that anyone can say w/o knowledge of more facts.

 

"Previous Pastor" won't leave.

Put that way, it makes one think.

Was he asked to leave? Does the church want him out of there?

If so, why?

I was in a church in my hometown, and I remember the pastor emeritus there, and I would have never known he was the founding pastor unless another told me. He was a most gracious man, filled with the Spirit, and a real blessing. He was contemporaneous with G. B. Vick, and mightily used of God. When I got saved, he came to me and shared 1 John 4:4 with me and I've never forgotten that to this day.

The situation worked out well with him there, not a bit of trouble. I don't think anyone felt like "previous pastor won't leave."

There are too many questions that the OP leaves. Very hard to make a decision or give advice on that level.

- Peace

 

You can learn a lot from having an older pastor there, make him useful ,ask his opinion on things, we all need a little support from time to time, but just make it clear to him that you are THE pastor now, and the church is your ultimate responsibility. The worst thing you can do is start a feud with another Christian, you should lead by example to others that although you and the former pastor have differences, with Christian love you can overcome them.

That's just my 2 cents, you will need to pray to God for real guidance!

 

You know your next step.

Church discipline is in order. They left it to you to handle, do it.

- Peace

 

Perhaps the other was heavy handed. With His leadership, you won't be.

I've been there bro. I know how it feels.

Here is another scenario altogether; We once had a man, a fellow student, who desired to be Youth Director in the church I pastored. My wife and I went to visit he and his family. Brother, I say this with all truth and empathy; his home environment was incredibly abhorrent to say the least. How could I say no? How could I suggest that the deplorable conditions he lived in did not lend toward leadership? How could I turn Gods youth to him?

I called my former pastor. He said "pray then that God would bring him and his family to understand they are disqualified." I prayed that, and they called me with this exact verdict. I praised God. What a relief.

Are you Gods man where He wants you? If so, perhaps you should believe the same end, and I will pray for you my brother.

May He bless you and show you.

- Peace and Grace to you, your family, and to the flock He granted you

 

I agree. But you need to move slowly and with the rest of the church leadership.

Are you aall a part of a denomination or convention? Can they help you in this?

Praying for you!

 

Amen for the praying for you part. We should pray for all the saints and share their burdens. God bless you Tom and all of your family and ministry.

 

Thanks P4T, I am praying for you, your family and church. Praying for all of us to preach God's Word tomorrow!

 

No, you know who ultimately had built the church; Jesus Christ.

Brother, you seem fixated more upon this man than Christ Himself as authority and Sovereign.

Trust the latter, not the former.

- Peace

 

Thanks for that brother Tom!

 

Here's the thing: does the church really want you to do something? If they bestowed upon him the emeritus title, they must hold him in high regard. If they haven't said anything to him, they must not be too bothered by it.

I would really take the temperature of the church. You have the courage of your convictions, but if the church doesn't share them, you'll lose. No matter how much they say they don't like the situation, it's another matter altogether for the church to pull the "trigger," be it disciplinary or otherwise.

I don't want to open a can of worms, but could he be right? Could they really be married in God's eyes without state sanction? We can't have it both ways. We can't say gays can't really be married in God's eyes if the state says they can, but say a heterosexual couple isn't because they didn't buy a marriage license but did everything else. I don't agree with this logic, but this may be what they're relying on (I've heard a similar argument made against divorced people who remarry).

But to the basic question: I think it's a huge no-no for former pastors to stay at the church they leave. The church, the old pastor, and new pastor have extra burdens on them and a foggy set of roles and boundaries.

 

Similar situation discussed in this thread.

You do know Texas is a common law marriage state?

If there truly is a sin problem, is it your goal just to get him to leave [OP: he won't leave. . .he's still in attendance] or to disciple toward repentance?