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(long) To those struggling in leadership...... - 10/29/2008 1:25:48 PM
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ladyingrace1979
Posts: 411
Joined: 3/14/2008
From: Fresno CA
Status: online
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don't give up.
I wanted to share a little about what has been happening in my church and in my life as part of that church. I do this to encourage those who are leading in difficult times.
Earlier this year, just after Easter the elders of our church asked for our pastor's resignation. The reason is not important to this post, but it was not a clear moral issue. This spurred a very difficult time for our church, much distrust, anger, and hurt. One of the wisest things the elders did was to call a transitional pastor, this differs from an interim pastor in that the job of transitional pastor is to look at the church as a whole and find issues that are causing the church to not be healthy. Anything is open to him. So Pastor Al has been taking a hard look at the history of our church, the leadership structure, the individuals who are in leadership, the congregations make up and the current issues surrounding the pastor leaving. With all that said, last Sunday we had a reconciliation and recommissioning service. It started with an hour long prayer time and then the actual service. I can tell you the Holy Spirit was there in a mighty way. So many people made peace with one another and with elders. I felt a spirit of unity and joy that hasn't been there in a long time. I spoke to so many people who told me that their burdens had been removed and they felt healing in a spiritual and emotional sense.
I went to the prayer time, but my heart was heavy. You see my husband and I went to see Pastor Al on Friday to try to get answers to the why's. You see both Paul (dh) and I had been very fond of our former pastor and this wasn't the first time issues had surfaced with the elders. We had considered leaving that church, but various reasons hadn't. Unfortunately getting whys only made me more angry. I think down deep I knew it wasn't why's that I wanted. So I went to prayer time, they gave us a sheet of paper with some guidelines to pray, some requests that they saw in the body, very general things and very godly things like praying for unity. There was also a page that had a copy of the covenant we all sign when we become members, basically a pledge to support our church by not gossiping or causing disunity, pledging to support the church in prayer and involvement in its ministries. I realized that I could not with an honest heart pray for the leadership of my church. So I asked God to show me why, what was in my spirit that prevented me from praying. God showed me that I had an angry bitter spirit. I wasn't looking for why's I wanted some one to blame for my pastor's leaving. I had assigned all blame for any problems at the church to the elders. I was so angry and hurt that I was dredging up stuff from the past. Well it took the whole prayer hour and most of Al's sermon that morning for me to get honest with God and surrender all the sin I had been carrying around. Then we had the recommissioning part of the service. We all gathered around the elders and pastoral staff and laid hands on them to pray. Because Paul and I sit up front we were the first up there. Of course God wasn't going to let me pray with some one easy. He had to lead dh to the elder that I had the most issue with. I wasn't too sure I could in honesty pray for this man. But God wanted me to do so. When we finished praying the elder turned to me and said " I felt the warmth of the Holy Spirit through your touch." This particular brother isn't very open and expressive about the things the Holy Spirit does in his life so that was big, for him to say and to feel. God had used me, someone who was struggling with anger and bitterness to bless one of the people I had the most anger towards!
I share all of this with you to encourage you, if your church or your ministry is going through a difficult time, if there is hurt and anger, whatever the issues, God cares. He can and will act if people are willing. Our God heals hearts! Keep on praying and trusting.
God is good and He is faithful,
In His grace,
Kim Q
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RE: (long) To those struggling in leadership...... - 10/29/2008 1:51:40 PM
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rcjames
Posts: 5759
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ladyingrace1979
Earlier this year, just after Easter the elders of our church asked for our pastor's resignation. The reason is not important to this post, but it was not a clear moral issue. This spurred a very difficult time for our church, much distrust, anger, and hurt. .
I do have much empathy for your situation as oart if my resopnsibility for my denominatin is trying to calm dust ups when they occur in our member Churches.
The cause that the Elders used is most important, was it Scriptural and in line with the Churches organizational mandates, or was it Elder's personal reasons.
When a Pastor is acting unScriptural then there is hardly a ripple when they are removed, what you discribe is a very bad attempt by the Elders to calm a situation by un-Scriptural means.
If you are ever going to truly find peace you must understand the infractions and understand that they merit removal.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
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RE: (long) To those struggling in leadership...... - 10/30/2008 3:06:44 PM
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ladyingrace1979
Posts: 411
Joined: 3/14/2008
From: Fresno CA
Status: online
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You have totally missed my point for the post. My point was that whether or not the elders were justified in asking for the pastor's resignation finding blame wasn't helping me, my family or my church. There was fault on both sides. Allowing anger and bitterness to build was a sin and God forgave an healed. That forgiveness and healing is spreading through the church.
Blame solves nothing, faith and forgiveness solves everything.
Kim Q
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