Developing Leaders & Building a Legacy
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Other Works

Knowing When It's Time to Go

2/22/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Don't panic. We're not going anywhere. I love Emmanuel and I love Florida way too much.

But sometimes when we're in ministry we reach a point where we recognize that it's time to go, that the chapter we're in is coming to a close and it's time to see what God is opening up next. Aside from the the obvious ones (being terminated or being recruited--and even those are subjective), what are some ways we can know it's time to go?

Leadership Ceiling - Sometimes a leader gets to a point where they've taken a church or ministry as far as they can go. It might be an attendance barrier, a missions ceiling, or a sending limit. But all of us recognize when we're not the best fit anymore. The flip side is when we've taken a church as far as they are willing to go. Either are ways for us to recognize a ceiling.

Unable to Follow Vision/Leadership - If you're serving in a second chair or associate role, this can affect you mostly. All of us have to serve where we serve with integrity not only personally with professionally. Part of that means serving with integrity under the leadership of a pastor or elders. When we find ourselves unable to anymore (whether they're issues of character or competence, or sometimes even personality differences), we owe it not only to ourselves but also to the church to begin looking for the next chapter.

Theological Changes - I'm not talking about nuanced issues or over really small issues. I'm talking about a church or pastor who abandons or rejects major issues of faith. And it doesn't always have to be a slide towards liberal theology. It can be over secondary theological issues where there is contention or difficulty continuing. For a lot of our churches this discussion centers around Calvinism. It's the pink elephant in the room. 

Holy Angst - Many times God gives us a new burden, a new vision, a new assignment. And we recognize that we're given a "holy angst" for the burden from God. Many times it comes from someone who's served as an associate pastor who now has a longing and desire to be a lead pastor. Or it can come from someone who wants to transition from an event-driven student ministry to more of a family equipping model. That holy angst comes from a desire for us to be faithful to the calling God's given us, and for us to serve where we'll be most effective.

Ultimately the decision and longing to leave where you're serving is between you (and your spouse!) and God. Leaving for greener grass or a bigger paycheck is never what you think it is. The reason the grass is so green is because it's well fertilized. And like the 90s rap song said, more money more problems. But a God-given, God-honoring longing for greater and more effective service can be an incredible open door for ministry!

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Scott M. Douglas

    A blog about leadership and the lasting legacy of family ministry. ​

    Archives

    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015

    Categories

    All
    Book Review
    Burnout
    Change
    Crisis
    Delegation
    Digital Presence
    Family
    Family Ministry
    Finances
    Goals
    Leadership
    Legacy
    Manhood
    Networking
    Parenting
    Personality
    Planning
    Relationships
    Salary
    Social Media
    Starting Well
    Student Ministry
    Teaching
    Team Leadership
    Team Ministry
    Time Management
    Vision

    RSS Feed

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Blog
  • About
  • Contact
  • Other Works