If your people won't follow, it may be the result of past abandonment.
by Kenneth Quick
It used to be that churches trusted pastors unless something such as moral failure or spiritual abuse broke that trust. Today, though, when the average length of a pastor's ministry in some churches is less than three years, the factor that prompts to churches to become "hard to lead" is a situation of abandonment at a crucial juncture.
What is a "crucial juncture"? A wolf on the horizon (some significant event with potential negative consequences for the church) that causes the pastor to flee. It can be a conflict or a challenge to his leadership. It could be corporate anxiety caused by a drop in giving, decreased attendance, a move, or a building program.
What is a "crucial juncture"? A wolf on the horizon (some significant event with potential negative consequences for the church) that causes the pastor to flee. It can be a conflict or a challenge to his leadership. It could be corporate anxiety caused by a drop in giving, decreased attendance, a move, or a building program.
This is an interesting diagnosis of a condition for churches. I am also interested to learn that pastor stay for less than three years in churches before moving on. I used to think it was 5 years!
Hi Stanley Wong,
ReplyDeleteGreetings. No, I do not think the article Attachment Disorder Churches (ADC) applies to NCC. The author was trying to highlight the problems some churches face due to being let down by their pastors, with their frequent turnover, each leaving behind a trail of hurts and disappointments.
Thank you for your sharing. I can understanding your feelings as a NCC member, with a large number of criticisms (often unwarranted, I must say) directed at you. May God grant you the patience and wisdom as you deal with this.