A new Pastor at Church.

[Sojourner]

As the year draws to a close in Australia it is the time of year I gather when SDA denominational leaders have another look at the ministers that work in the churches and changes are made. In our case our Senior pastor is moving locally to another SDA fellowship and we are getting a new minister from interstate who I gather has not been in our state before.

In one sense I am surprised I guess only because the chap that we had seemed to do his job very well and did a great job in what you might expect of him. The congregation has grown to capacity in our building and things appear to be going pretty well. Yet he wishes to move on to another opportunity and I have wished him all the best with it, although I do feel he will be missed accordingly by a number of us.

Which leads me to raise the discussion on how people in here cope with the process of the Senior Minister in your church moving on and being replaced by someone else who you may not know at all as in this case.

It seems to me that a large part of the way churches work is around relationships between people and for a Senior Minister to suddenly find himself in the middle of 300+ people who all know each other cant be an easy task.

I am thinking of simply giving him a call and inviting him and his family over for dinner once they have had time to settle in. I realize that they are likely going to be in quite a different place, yet I think perhaps the best way is if people reach out and embrace them in the best way they can. Still, leaving them alone and assuming they need some time period to settle in could perhaps not be the best idea as it may simply emphasise isolation and perhaps make it harder for them to settle in?

What would you do?

[GoLions]

SOJOURNER

 

 yes  here   in U.S.A.  we  change  PASTORS  every  3 to  5 years

 

dgrimm60

I wish that was a rule, to many Pastors hang around for to long.  I don't think it's healthy for a Church to have the same Pastor that long, for multiple reasons!

[Gerr]

I'm glad our ministers are moved around from time to time.  After awhile, the sermons become stale and are just recycled.  Imagine getting stuck with someone you didn't care to listen to!  

[Lauralea]

Inviting them for Sabbath dinner could work or you could just be friendly and tell him if he needs help unloading or something you are willing to help.