Random Musings on Living Well

How to Get Your Pastor to Leave

13 If the household is worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.

Matthew 10:13-14 (NKJV)

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pastorkemp

These are the random musings of a man whose goal is to make Jesus the paramount pursuit of my life who, while in this effort, is writing down a few lessons I've learned along the way. You'll have to decide if they are worth heeding but at least you may learn a few things not to do.

4 thoughts on “How to Get Your Pastor to Leave”

  1. Brother Kemp,

    You hit on a very solid topic, one that is difficult to express without ticking off folks, and yet once again, you have hit a home run here. I especially, took note of your comments regarding the closing of so many churches around our country, the lack of pastors. For what it is worth, recently, here in our little town of Winnsboro, TX in east Texas, we had a church that was Assembly of God, they were looking for a pastor, and even though I am Spirit Filled, Licensed and Ordained as a Pastor, I am currently without a church. I applied for the position after consultation with my wife and many hours of prayer. I truly felt led of the Lord to do so. The day after I submitted my application/resume while driving to the grocery store, it was as if our Lord was seated next to me in the car, and whether He spoke audibly to me or simply to my heart, the words I heard shattered my hopes. What I heard was, they are looking for a couple in their mid 30’s, 2 kids, a dog and a cat. They do not want a 70 something set in his ways, gray haired pastor. Sure enough weeks later, I drove past the church and the parsonage and the new pastor and his family were moving in. Mid 30’s 2 kids, and 2 dogs, no cats. LOL! I think many churches in our country would not have to close if they would simply think outside the box. The Apostle Paul said the gifts and callings of God are without repentance. There is still a lot of life, energy, love of the ministry, and God’s anointing on my life with a lot still to give to a congregation. Knowing the church had dwindled in size, needed a boost. I offered myself and my bride of nearly 40 years as pastors of the church for no salary, just a once a year love offering, and offered to stay living in our own home right around the corner from the church and allow the church to rent out the parsonage at what ever rate they could get to provide additional funding for the ministry in our town. Sadly, besides, not being truly considered for the position, I never received a reply. Despite that, I did submit a letter of thanks, for having had my application/resume received by the committee. I have peace, I continue now some 18 months later to pray for the young man and his family who the church extended the call to become their pastor. Yet I think some congregations are missing out and losing their church when they really did not have to. Anyway, my two cents worth. Keep up the encouraging words, they are always a blessing when they arrive in my in box.

    Eric Shelander

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    1. Pastor Shelander, thank you for sharing your story. Regrettably it is a story that happens far too often. However, your remarks give me hope. You wrote: “There is still a lot of life, energy, love of the ministry, and God’s anointing on my life with a lot still to give to a congregation.” Stay focus on that. You wrote “a congregation”, not just that particular congregation only. Don’t lose hope and don’t stop looking for a place to serve. I truly believe there is a place for you. Every “no” eliminates another distraction and gets you closer to God’s yes.

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