Sometimes God redirects you…
As a Pastor for the past 20+ years, I’ve often bemoaned the statistics that are regularly released about the number of men who leave the pastorate. It’s hard enough to find a good man, the right man for your pastoral need… so it’s tough to see them leaving church ministry altogether.
Many years ago I received a very clear call from the LORD into pastoral ministry. Over the years, and a lot of trial and error, I figured out that God had assigned me to smaller churches specifically. I assumed, out of my own limited view of things, that a call like that would be for the rest of my life – or until I couldn’t work anymore.
It’s funny to think about that mindset – because changes come, and they have come to me.
Now, just as certainly as I sensed God’s call into church ministry, I’m sensing His call out of it.
Just last week I sent out a letter to my church family, informing them of my decision to leave pastoral ministry. My wife and I have been walking through the process of making this decision with the help of my Elder team for months.
I can see from this side of the issue that the LORD is indeed sovereign, over calls and over situations. He’s used a variety of means, both joyful and painful, to redirect me, to show me that my time in pastoral ministry is coming to a close.
I still love the local church, though I am rethinking a lot of how we actually “do” church, in light of my experiences. I still love the people in the church. But the LORD has removed my zeal to serve as its shepherd.
I guess I’ll be one of those misconstrued statistics that people bemoan… but I believe this is a good thing.
A right thing.
An act of my sovereign LORD for both my good and the good of His church.
In weeks to come I’ll be writing some “lessons learned” from 20+ years of pastoral ministry, for the sake of those who are in the ministry and for the sake of those who are part of the flock. I believe I see some things clearly now that I was unable to see when in the thick of things. I hope you’ll stay tuned, and interact.
What now?
Much like Abraham, I don’t have a solid plan. I just know the LORD has told me to go. I do believe that He’s leading me to develop my other ministry to a point it can support me full-time, but I know that could take a while. So, I’ll be figuring out how to support the family, in whatever ways the LORD provides, while I work toward that end.
My knee jerk reaction is to think that a pastor should never quit the ministry – but when I think even briefly on it, I realize that makes no sense. God can call people to one vocation or another at his pace. I wouldn’t balk if someone felt called later in life IN to the ministry, so why should it be any different when you leave? So go for it!
I think the key issue, though, is not necessarily what we’re called out of it, but what we’re called to. I’m eager to see how your new ministry grows!
Your first response is similar to what mine has always been. I inwardly looked down on men who moved out of ministry (not that you were doing that). So many of the “Bible heroes” were redirected countless times – Paul even went into “prison ministry.” I think it comes down to me not knowing the full picture at any given stage, though it may feel like I do. The redirection is evidence that I don’t.