Friday
Dec262003
More on church leavers
Friday, December 26, 2003 at 4:20PM This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"
I came across some excellent posts by LT, written last May, on the church leaver debate. I know they're old (as is Leighton as of yesterday! - just kidding, I'm really envious), but they're worth reading once again. These are samples. You may want to read the entire posts. Post 1:The people who may correctly criticize the small group of
Reader Comments (4)
I am considering leaving the church after over 30 years in the Pentacostal church. I have left for short periods and wandered back hoping in some way it had matured. This is scary as I know I have a deep dependency on the church...like a surrogate parent. My main reasons for leaving are the driven nature of the church meetings and years of bad advice! The more I become involved in church activities the more unwell I become. I am an addicted church helper! I cant seem to break the cycle so I am leaving until I get some answers. The other reason I am disallusioned is because the church is not addressing mental illness as it should be. There is very little help for the mentally ill in church, and as this section of our community is rapidly growing due to abuse of drugs and alcohol and childhood abuse...I am afraid for their future. I would welcome anyone's thoughts on this. I am disappointed in the church... no more than that ...I feel horribly betrayed. Sunny
Sunny, I hear you. Just a question: have you been able to raise any of this with the leaders? Sometimes they don't watn to hear this type of thing, but you never now - they may be ready.
True reasons why I left my three previous churches. 1. controversy over youth ministry and my role in it. 2. frustration with structure, bureaucracy, and cliques. 3. impatience with incompetent lay leadership. Please note: 1. I left after months/years of trying to seek a positive solution to problems. 2. In each case I left behind a wonderful minister-- pastoral change was a nonfactor. 3. if God calls me to perform a task at a specific church, it is legitimate for me to leave after the job is done, or if I am no longer allowed to perform the task.
Thoguht you might be interested in a project I am involved in called Letters From Leavers. Check it out at http://lettersfromleavers.com" rel="nofollow">http://lettersfromleavers.com