Resigning A Church
Problems are about changing you and not necessarily them.
- When we know that we are going to leave a place, it is a natural human reaction to begin to withdraw from relationships there and usually we also slack off on our job.
If we plan on leaving a place when we go there, we tend to not make strong relationships nor do we do our best in the job. Also, we do not really believe God is calling us there.
Rom. 11:29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
- You are not ready to resign a church until you can leave with no anger, hurt, resentment, bitterness or any unfinished emotional/spiritual business. If you have any ill feelings, you still have unfinished emotional/spiritual business right there.
Eph. 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Philip. 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
1 Cor. 14:40 Let all things be done decently (honestly) and in order.
Romans 12:14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
1 Thes. 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
If you do leave with unfinished business, God will keep bringing it up until you do finish that business.
2 Peter 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Have you thanked God for the church and the situation?
Ephes. 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
There appear to be three different types of forgiveness spoken of in scripture. In this instance (Eph. 4:32) the type spoken of is that of harboring no negative feeling toward the offender(s).
If you are considering leaving a church, the members can usually sense it and some may start acting out. You are their “spiritual father.”
Ephes. 6:4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
You are to set the right example for the church. If you leave for the wrong reason, or in the wrong way, what are you teaching your people?
You are to be faithful in all things. Are you being faithful to God’s bride when you start looking for a different church? How is that any different from the man who wants to leave his wife and starts looking for someone better?
1 Cor. 4: 1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
If you are determined to leave a church, the least that you can do is to leave in a way that minimizes the negative effects on that church.
- Notify the congregation several months ahead of your resignation (give them a specific date) and give them time to emotionally adjust to your leaving.
- Have a fellowship at the time of your resignation, to allow each member a chance to tell you goodbye. This helps bring some closure for them and for you.
- If possible, also have a service whereby you hand over the keys to church to your successor and admonish the people to follow his leadership. This will help make the transition from your ministry to theirs much easier.
- Before you accept a call from another church, do your homework. Check out the church’s history with pastors – how many pastors have they had in the past 20 years, how long did each stay, why did each leave and how did they leave. This information can help you get a feel for what to expect from that church, if you accept its call.
Rev. E. Dixon Murrah, MA
April 6, 2008
(Rev. June 12, 2008)
