nakedpastor
When you in good conscience end a relationship, be prepared to be the one blamed.
My previous church went through a church split in 1997. It was horrendous. Part of the cause of the church split was that I believed there needed to be a healthier relationship between our church and the previous pastor. I felt there should be a healthier distance between us.
Even as I write this I am aware that I might be kicking a hornet’s nest again because there is still massive visceral disagreement with my opinions about that whole episode in Rothesay Vineyard’s history. Nevertheless, I and the leadership team felt certain we had to separate ourselves in a healthy manner from any kind of “apostolic oversight” that was popular at the time. Especially since we were already part of another movement known as the Vineyard.
The ramifications of our decision was enormous and immediate. It dramatically polarized people for or against the church. Enemies reproduced like a bad virus, eventually causing our church to experience an alienation we could have never predicted or imagined that lasted for years and still lingers.
Many people visit my blog and send me emails or Facebook messages telling me their own personal horror stories of leaving an unhealthy relationship with an individual or a church. The pain they experience is deep, and the shame they are tempted to carry is heavy.
I always encourage them to stand their ground. It is better to suffer free than to live enslaved. In time they will find peace again. I know this from experience.
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