Letters From Leavers

I’m a minister to junior high, high school and college students. I’m pursuing other jobs at this point in an effort to get out of my current church before it crushes me under the weight of unfair expectations, unwarranted and biased criticisms over inconsequential matters that have no real bearing on the kingdom of God either negatively or positively, and a methodology and philosophy that wreaks of “the American Way.” It is a church that prides itself on doing, doing, doing, with no regard for the lives of its members and more importantly its staff. The senior pastor is in firm control of every aspect of the church and his word is infallible law, never to be questioned, for if one does question it they are immediately labeled a rogue and rebel, and not a “team-player.” There is no compromise, no seeking of better ways to do ministry outside of minor, insignificant changes such as music and different programs. Everything fits within the box that the minister has created, and that is agreed upon by a team of elder’s that the minister has basically hand-selected, and, who, according to my observations, would not dare challenge that box. I have no voice here, nothing to contribute, nothing to add to the mix, because I have a much larger vision of what the church is called to be, something more than a country-club that talks about Jesus and does churchy things.

So I’m leaving. As soon as I can.

I really don’t know what the future holds for my life as a follower of Jesus. I want to follow him, love humanity, serve the least and the last, share my life and possessions with others, because this is what the early church was and should be. I am not content with being a member of a church and don’t see much point in it anymore since most of what the IC exists for is its own preservation and well-being.

I have to leave before the church kills me and destroys my desire to do ministry ever again in any kind of context, whether professional (not a chance in hell!) or lay.