tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269648634709183279.post2479652438154758673..comments2023-10-21T06:41:09.118-07:00Comments on Random Enlightenment: Ch - Ch - ChangesMarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15292824227963056711noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269648634709183279.post-81190073312478042652008-04-03T19:38:00.000-07:002008-04-03T19:38:00.000-07:00A good pastor friend of ours decided it was time t...A good pastor friend of ours decided it was time to close his church down (it was a seeker-friendly church plant that existed for almost 10 years). He had a celebration luncheon and invited close friends and several other pastors from around town that he knew, to come and celebrate what God had down through that particular church. It was awesome! I had never heard of that before. There were prayers and blessings and kind thoughts and remembrances. The members were allowed to grieve, but also to have closure. Much better than just shutting down and leaving everyone to grieve and work through their feelings alone.netablogshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03701837355683136230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269648634709183279.post-4240789097138582502008-03-31T21:01:00.000-07:002008-03-31T21:01:00.000-07:00Hey Julie, I hear what you're saying about success...Hey Julie, I hear what you're saying about successful switch's. Unfortunately it's often a case of the church or the pastor not being ethical in the changing process. The church can be cruel, the pastor can lie, etc., etc. People get hurt. And it can be nasty. The worst fallout is usually with those closest to whoever is wronged. And of course there are always at least two sides to every story.<BR/><BR/>When we left Mennville we thought we managed the transition well. Many were sad to see us go, some were happy, and a few were ecstatic! Leaving is an art form I guess. There are good ways and bad ways to go about it. Waiting til you are forced out is bad. It would be very interesting to interview a thousand churches and find out what the ones who managed the change (both pastor and congregation) did to make it work. I'm guessing that they had highly ethical leadership and highly ethical pastors.<BR/><BR/>May God bless you as you struggle with it all . . .Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15292824227963056711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269648634709183279.post-42690278231032624262008-03-31T18:54:00.000-07:002008-03-31T18:54:00.000-07:00I am definitely not very enthusiastic about pastor...I am definitely not very enthusiastic about pastoral changes in churches. It's actually something I've been struggling with lately. I need to have faith and hope in what God can do and is doing in His church, but so often hopelessness and discouragement prevails. Maybe it's because I haven't experienced a very succesful switch. I think it's not a matter of not believing God can bring a body of believers through change, it's that I don't have faith in us human's ability to follow Him. I'm still processing that one...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269648634709183279.post-80011815775439921142008-03-31T10:46:00.000-07:002008-03-31T10:46:00.000-07:00I'm not sure if I share your same enthusiasm with ...I'm not sure if I share your same enthusiasm with Change ;) but I do believe that Will was sincere and this was God inspired. So with that said, I too am excited to see what God has in store for us.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12255938133280519566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-269648634709183279.post-36142719549182066982008-03-31T10:23:00.000-07:002008-03-31T10:23:00.000-07:00I can totally relate to basing your decision to at...I can totally relate to basing your decision to attend a church on the pastor. For me it was a combination of the pastor and the worship music. But it's funny you post this, I was thinking just the other weekend as I was listening to my pastor speak, 'what would I do if he ever left this church?' I thought, well I would have to find another church! I don't know what that means exactly. But I agree, change is good. And moreso, being open to change.<BR/><BR/>Always exciting to think "what's next"!Staceyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09792988908227647278noreply@blogger.com