Every so often, I will have someone come to me telling me they are considering coming to Harvest, that they feel they need to leave the church they have been at.
And every so often, I have people that had been with us at Harvest for awhile, that I no longer see anymore. They just left, nothing said.
Leaving a church you have been a part of is not easy. It is a big decision, as it should be something taken very seriously. I am thankful for those in the past that DID leave right, and always try to help those coming in enter right.
Scott Hodge, a pastor in Napierville, IL posted these thoughts today. I thought they were well worth passing along..!
Grace,
PB
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RULES FOR LEAVING A CHURCH
1. Offense is never the right reason to leave a church. Leaving a church with offense in your heart is dangerous to your soul. Work it out. That’s the tough side of community that we don’t talk nearly enough about. Often times, it’s through the working out of hurt, pain, or offense that we become more closely connected in our communities. It grows and matures us.
2. Don’t just disappear. People do this all the time. POOF! They’re gone! (And often times they get offended when the church they left doesn’t desperately chase after them when they’re gone.) Look, if God is behind your decision, then trust that He will give you the courage and strength to have the (yes, somewhat uncomfortable) conversations needed to do it well. Finish your commitments. Connect with your leader through the process. Ask them to pray with you about what you’re feeling. Give God an opportunity to make it seem right with them too.
3. Don’t look for reasons to leave. If you are….trust me, you’ll find plenty of them! If God is calling you to leave, you don’t have to wait until you find a tangible reason to do so. Sitting around waiting for a “reason” can turn you into a nasty, judgmental, and negative person. It’ll hurt your soul and probably others too. In fact, if you’re walking around looking for reasons to leave, then I’d suggest looking at the inwardly condition of your heart and soul.
4. Don’t be negative. I hate hearing people talk negatively about the church or pastor they just left. Chances are, those same people will be standing in front of my pastor friend down the street saying the same thing about me in a matter of months. If you feel like you need to talk negatively about the pastor or church you’re leaving, chances are……you are the one who needs to change first.
5. Show Gratitude. Take time to say ‘thank you’ to the pastor and leadership of the church you’re leaving. If you stayed too long and are offended, that’s your fault – not theirs. When someone takes the time to send me an email or letter saying ‘thank you’ for pouring into their lives as they transition to a different church, that’s huge! I have a ton of respect for people who do that.
HOW you do things is just as important (if not even more important) as WHAT you do.
Part 3 Tomorrow: To those SHOWING UP at the NEW CHURCH.
Posted in Change/Transition, Leadership | ShareThis
This is great. What a difference there would be in church life if we all followed these rules! I think we would see a lot more of Christ's love shining through.
Posted by: Alyson | January 11, 2011 at 12:52 PM