In and Out (without the burgers...)

I've been around church-ianity my entire life.  Raised in a pastor's home...  On staff at three churches...  Now, a lead pastor...  And throughout my life and journey of ministry, there are a handful of things that I’ve come to accept as “fact”.  And one of those “facts” is that when it comes to the local church, people will COME and people will GO.

It's inevitable!

And of course, there are all sorts of reasons why people leave a church - everything from a job transfer to a student going away to college to someone being upset or offended about something, to (FILL IN THE BLANK)...

But the bottom line is…

IT’S GOING TO HAPPEN!

And since most of us as pastors and church leaders pour our lives and passion into what we do, I think we  probably all have a natural tendency to really take it personally when people decide to leave - especially when or if they become negatively critical on their way out.

So, I think the big question is:

“What do we do?  How do we, as pastors and church leaders, handle people leaving the church communities we lead?”

The reason I think this is such an important question is because A) It’s going to happen.  B) When it does happen, there will always be some people who don’t leave well.  C) That sucks.  D) Since most of us don’t like it when it happens, we better learn to handle it well or else begin planning an early retirement at the local psychiatric ward. 

SO…….I want to pull a Groeschel and dedicate a couple of posts to this topic and share with you a few things that I have HAD TO make a decision about early on in my ministry that I hope and believe will help sustain me through the constant challenges and pressures of pastoral ministry.  Perhaps these will help you if you are a pastor or church leader.  If not, that’s ok.  As always, I consider my blog to be my greatest source of therapy and self-help.  ☺ 

Stay tuned. 

Comments

[Charles Cole]

This post rocks

[Brad]

Thanks Scott. Looking forward to these posts.

[Robert Pooley]

I'm ready... go for it!

[matt]

I've noticed that when people leave church, even when it's moderately pleasant, it's like when we were in high school and your girl friend said "let's just be friends" (a.k.a. she dumped you). You say you'll be friends, but you never are again.

Same with the church. When someone leaves, I've never seen a pastor maintain the friendship that they apparantly had when they were members, unless there is a hidden motivation to get them to return to the church.

I'm looking forward to reading the next few posts, which sounds like a great topic for a book. ;)

[Chilly...]

Scott - great post! I think you'll enjoy my thoughts today as well - check it out!

Have a great weekend!

[anne jackson]

i think i have developed a term for what you call "pulling a groeschel" - it's called "getting smacked in the face by chuck norris roundhouse kick."

when good truth is put forth clearly in this mess of ministry confusion - that's what it feels like. and i must say, it feels good! :)