Comments on: The Control of Ministry

By: rustyhinges

rustyhinges — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 19:22:05 +0000

It is reassuring to know that I’m not the only one. I think a lot of Christians are finding it necessary to leave Western brand churchianity with its fleshly power structures and one man renegade leaders. These leaders are unaccountable to true eldership.

I’ll be voting with my feet ASAP. I want to vote for God’s people, the church.

By: formerly known as

formerly known as — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 13:25:48 +0000

voting with your feet…i like that. my feet can’t vote fast enough.

By: Ravi Philemon

Ravi Philemon — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 19:56:36 +0000

You are not alone. A recent survey shows that over 15 million people have left the Institutionalised Church, just in the USA. But the challenge will be, do we go from organized religion (IC) to unorganized religion (house church movements) or remain pure to what the Spirit of God is speaking to our hearts about being relational and not religious in the true sense. I invite you to see our journey at breaking away from the IC at http://www.lifegathering.co.nr.

By: dangilliam

dangilliam — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 13:11:47 +0000

I have left the institutional church 4 or 5 times now and this time I’m never going back. There is something very broken about the model of leadership where one man has control and the elders back him no matter what without question. Even othe senior staff, in my experience was there to serve and protect the “philosophy” (read wishes) of the senior pastor. And he admittedly had no prayer or devotional life and was not accountable to anyone. The Spirit of God has left the building and many of us are following the Spirit…out the front door. Seek your own relationship with Christ and let this lead you to a new expression of church with him and others. The quiet revolution will occur as the free-thinking God-followers quietly leave the ranks. The kingdom of God is alive and well. But in my opinion, it happens to be thriving in places the institutional church does not meet.

By: formerly known as

formerly known as — Wed, 04 Apr 2007 20:14:11 +0000

As an addendum to this post, I would like to add that 6 days ago I was asked to resign my position because of “conflict in philosophy” with the senior minister. To quote from the two elders that asked me to resign, “We have two great jigsaw pieces that don’t fit together.”

By: tim

tim — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 02:25:45 +0000

What’s it like to be free?

By: formerly known as

formerly known as — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 18:33:42 +0000

it is terrifying to be honest with you, because of the uncertainty that surrounds starting a new career when all you’ve known is ministry all of your adult life.

but at the same time, i’ve never felt so at peace and so relieved to be done with something as i am right now, looking at the prospect of being done with this place in a couple weeks.

By: dangilliam

dangilliam — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:46:00 +0000

Now you are in the unique position to be able to trust God and let him reveal to you your true calling. Though we were not taught this in Bible College and the institutional church does not embrace this message, God is most interested in your developing a relationship with him and his kingdom and in finding ways to be his light and love to those in your life. You will soon disover that working for a church has ironically limited your ability to seek God and to be useful to others as individuals. Sleep in on Sundays for about a year to allow yourself the opportunity to detox from the old structures of church as you’ve known them. If you seek God he will reveal new and fresh ways for you to do and be his church. It’s quite surprising to see what God can do when we allow room in our lives for his Spirit to move, breathe, work and play. Welcome to the work of the kingdom of God.

Blessings on your journey with God.

www.dangilliam.net

By: rustyhinges

rustyhinges — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 04:37:20 +0000

I’d love to hear where your journey is leading you. Feel free to email me through my website. I’m on the cusp of leaving too.