tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post5134696326226488614..comments2024-02-28T11:17:06.975-05:00Comments on Catchin' Some Waves: Leadership Issues - Church Hop #4Rick Lawrensonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04472532417528025895noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-82823840509528582162008-06-26T19:54:00.000-04:002008-06-26T19:54:00.000-04:00My pastor confirmed me (Lutheran) in the 8th grade...My pastor confirmed me (Lutheran) in the 8th grade. Then he spoke at my high school graduation. He married my husband and me and baptized our children. He just recently retired. I am so sad, but hopefully my children will have the same memories of the one who took his place!<BR/>Kari<BR/>Houston, TXAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-70086119228657077892008-06-26T17:58:00.000-04:002008-06-26T17:58:00.000-04:00SB,Sorry to hear from you what is a too familiar s...SB,<BR/>Sorry to hear from you what is a too familiar story.<BR/><BR/>How about sending me an email? <BR/>One question I have is why your wounding enables church hopping. Are you still going from church to church?Rick Lawrensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04472532417528025895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-87785559188057445782008-06-26T13:53:00.000-04:002008-06-26T13:53:00.000-04:00rick,I'm wonderding what advise you have for a chu...rick,<BR/><BR/>I'm wonderding what advise you have for a church hopper who used to be involved in ministry. after nearly a decade of being the wife of a minister, we left the ministry and came away with some pretty gaping wounds from an ego-filled leader in the church (that also would be a topic I'd be interested in hearing your opinion on... a pastor/leader who is fueled by the big-business aspect of the church). How does one stop church hopping when the wounds go so deep? <BR/>thanks.<BR/>sbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-26755313874532543422008-06-25T08:57:00.000-04:002008-06-25T08:57:00.000-04:00I have been involved in a situation where people h...I have been involved in a situation where people holding very visable leadership position in a church were also business men in the community. Which is fine, unless they are known for being rude, untrustworthy, and a gossipmonger. Then you have to ask yourself if this is who you want representing your church and your faith in the community.Applehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16730547830296843961noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-28744478670552504322008-06-24T11:49:00.000-04:002008-06-24T11:49:00.000-04:00@mrsredboots,That was who I was thinking of in poi...@mrsredboots,<BR/>That was who I was thinking of in point #3. <BR/><BR/>Some of the most insecure people I know are pastors, btw.<BR/><BR/>@Bill,<BR/>I've noticed that, too. God gets blamed for a lot of moves.Rick Lawrensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04472532417528025895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-64372482087698678582008-06-24T01:29:00.000-04:002008-06-24T01:29:00.000-04:00Have you ever noticed that when a pastor gets "the...Have you ever noticed that when a pastor gets "the call" to go to another church it is never to a smaller one?Bill and Peggyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01234553379136556561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-23512102131196934442008-06-23T22:48:00.000-04:002008-06-23T22:48:00.000-04:00I just remembered that you mentioned be Baptists a...I just remembered that you mentioned be Baptists a few posts back. You don't have to answer me :)Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237521455003499534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-62468783542263200452008-06-23T22:35:00.000-04:002008-06-23T22:35:00.000-04:00Rick, are y'all Baptists?Rick, are y'all Baptists?Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237521455003499534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-28494445142086849262008-06-23T22:31:00.000-04:002008-06-23T22:31:00.000-04:00I certainly don't think most churches should/would...I certainly don't think most churches should/would fall apart without a long-term pastor. The church is primarily the people in it- regardless of the leader or building or whatever. <BR/><BR/>BUT I think that the reason it can be so liberating to have a pastor for so many years is intimacy and the ability to work together to reach long term goals. Think about the people that teach you the most in your life- they are generally the people that know you in and out and have spent some time earning their keep (so to speak). I am a lot less likely to listen or respect the leading of some stranger who I don't feel cares about me or isn't invested in my local church and it's future. <BR/> <BR/><BR/>I like the feeling that I am not just being preached at on Sunday morning but that our pastor is part of the church and that we are all "in it together". How can someone lead us if they don't really take the time to know who we are?Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237521455003499534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-34544752782224519022008-06-23T17:45:00.000-04:002008-06-23T17:45:00.000-04:00Interesting post...the three largest churches in m...Interesting post...the three largest churches in my small community (representing two different denominations) have all had their senior ministers for I'd say, at least 15 years. One has had the same guy for....oh my....maybe even 30+ years? The church that's probably the next largest has had its pastor for I think 6 or 7 years, and before that, had someone for probably 6 or 7 years. While I think that it can be very good to have the same leadership in a church for years, does the "lead pastor" (or whatever that church decides to call it) really NEED to be the same person? I mean, if he does his job and equips the body of Christ while he's there, then if he leaves for whatever reason, it seems to me that the church shouldn't fall apart.00https://www.blogger.com/profile/05537409519473805118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-2297995847292802382008-06-23T17:38:00.000-04:002008-06-23T17:38:00.000-04:00I am 100% in favor of long-term pastorships. The o...I am 100% in favor of long-term pastorships. The only hard thing that comes of that is when a beloved pastor leaves/retires/dies the void left is more strongly felt. The pastor coming in behind him will have a harder time as he will always be compared. <BR/><BR/>But, I still think it is the way to go- pastors and congregations can get more done if they are comfortable and committed to each other.Jessicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03237521455003499534noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-6417653052019388582008-06-23T13:44:00.000-04:002008-06-23T13:44:00.000-04:00One other issue is if the pastor is a control frea...One other issue is if the pastor is a control freak, often caused by serious insecurity. That can stop people in the church growing into their own leadership roles - if the pastor has to run every Bible study group and prayer meeting, how do the congregation learn to lead Bible studies or prayer meetings? <BR/><BR/>I do thank God I'm only a preacher, not a pastor.... I can see I'd make every mistake in the book, and then some!Mrs Redboots (Annabel Smyth)https://www.blogger.com/profile/11270027663691257254noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-68176343037001421062008-06-23T13:01:00.000-04:002008-06-23T13:01:00.000-04:00My husband is in a non-denom. setting. His brothe...My husband is in a non-denom. setting. His brother is as well, and his dad was (retired). They have each stayed pretty long term at all their sites. Especially when in the senior ministry role. It has benefitted the churches very much! His dad was at his last church 25 years, his brother is pushing 17 and we're...well we just moved and hit 1 year :), but the last place was 10 years and hard to leave. ANYHOW, there's something to long term. In many ways its harder, you are more vulnerable. The longer you stay, the more you care or rather the more you are woven into others lives. You create friendships that are deepened by experiences that can only happen over time. Thus, you are more vulnerable. You have much more capacity to disappoint the longer you stay, because, face it, our "company" behavior only lasts so long. But the beauty is that you can really love and serve so much better (it seems to me). I don't know, in my short experience it has proved that its less of a "job" the more you are invested in the actually daily lives of your church (people, not building). But, you know someone's going to point out that Jesus only had a "ministry" for 3 years :). So, I suppose we'd better get on it, ha. Enough rambling...you can SO tell the kids are watching a movie.JonesFam4https://www.blogger.com/profile/07239074646424273613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3891271368543527189.post-70214316897578478572008-06-23T12:44:00.000-04:002008-06-23T12:44:00.000-04:00Good Morning.after reading this mornings post I fe...Good Morning.<BR/>after reading this mornings post I feel so incredibly grateful for my pastor/s hearts. We are a young church (5yrs this sept)and growing in a truly healthy manner because I believe just that, there is a strong committment from the leadership to the body. We are not coddled by our pastors in any way, but as a ongregration we know we are loved as well. I am in the "older" catergory of this body and have seen my share of flaky leadership so I truly appreicate Pastors who are daily putting themselves out there and teaching the solid truths of the word.<BR/>I think you would really appreciate our church (only a stones throw from the beach!) as I have sensed a great similarity with our churches that sit on opposite coastlands.<BR/>Praying for all you Pastors who have been called to fulfill this great commission!<BR/>julia~j~https://www.blogger.com/profile/13154460142222481804noreply@blogger.com