| Considering leaving a church really makes you think through your
theology -- at least it does me.
We had a pastor for *seven years* who was an exceptionally poor preacher
(in my opinion) and I grew really hungry for some substance in the
sermons. But I believe that to join a church is to join a
"covenant COMMUNITY of believers" -- not a matter of joining a pastor
or a preacher. I think that following a "personality cult" is wrong.
Besides that, my church is in the community where I live. (I feel that
God wants me to "bloom where I'm planted.") If I left it,
I would have to go to another town or city or change denominations.
If I am to be a part of the ministry of the laity, then I need to
do that in my own community -- and I did not want to change
denominations. So I stayed. We have another pastor now; he's better,
though not as good a preacher as some larger city churches are able
to afford.
(And I continue to love and cherish the members of my covenant community
-- including our former and present pastors -- and to be blessed by
belonging to/with them.)
Another issue that is common but that I haven't yet had to face is when
major conflicts or power struggles arise that cannot be resolved. I
think it's unrealistic to expect people who belong to churches to be
free of "politics" -- we are, after all, human. But some people are
quick to leave a church as soon as its members behave in a
less-than-Christian manner. On the other hand, some churches are
unwilling or unable to deal constructively with conflict and to resolve
it! (We had to do that last summer, and it was an emotionally
wrenching process.)
I think I'm rambling, so I'll stop.... :}
Nancy
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|
Thank you Richard, this is a place I can "vent". I have been
a Southern Baptist for close to 20 years now though I grew up as kind
of Methodist. I have been a member of this church for 12 years and
have taught various Bible classes throughout my time there. Over the
last several years I became less and less active in all the various
church activities until I really was only teaching while sometimes
going to the other get togethers. This last sunday I was approached by
the head of the deacons and told that since I was not as active as they
wanted there sunday school teachers I was being replaced. White hot
anger was my first response.....there had been *NO* indication of any
kind of these thoughts and certainly no "comming to me as a brother" to
ask about the situation. After Talking to my Pastor I decided to leave
and really was asked by him not to return because I told him that I
would have to be honest to the class about why I was asked to committ
to further activities or be replaced. He didn't want this information
given to the classes. To be honest..I'm not sure why.
So....wheeee! All that to say that I may not be southern
Baptist anymore. I am really looking for a different denomination that
will allow me to teach and preach honestly about the Bible as I read
and study it. I may be looking for a long time. :-} I have, for a
long time, been somewhat frustrated with traditional views of the
southern Baptists that are not cemented in Biblical truth.
Dave
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| I haven't had a regular church since I moved to New England. It's
not a comfortable situation. I grew up a preacher's kid and always
went to church. Church was much of my social life. It's where I
met my wife. But going to a church other than my fathers was always
hard for me. Why I'm not sure. Part of it may be that he is a great
preacher and many others don't measure up. part of it may be that as
a PK I was treated a little special and it's hard to give that up.
I'm not really sure.
When I went to college I went to church fairly regularly my first
three years. A different church every year. None of them fit me. I
attended Methodist, Mennonite, and Quaker churches those years. They
were all nice and the fellowship was good but I do not develop
friendships easily or quickly. The school year made it harder.
Since I've been in New England I've tried a bunch of churches and did
spend quite a while attending a Baptist church. But they were, at the
time, a very introverted church with *no* outreach to the community.
If you came you were welcome but no one went to ask you. And they would
not even support bringing people in by letting other organizations in
town use their facilities. That's changed since then but I've been
hesitant about going back.
I still attended my father's church from time to time. Even when he
changed church. Now he doesn't have a church, though his wife does.
8-10 hours is a bit far to drive to church regularly though. :-(
I really admire people who can move to a new area, find a church, and
get right into things. I wish I could but so far I can't.
Alfred
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