I haven't blogged much recently because there has been stuff happening. My boss - ie, the minister of the church where I work - resigned from his position just before Easter. Staff were told about it just after Easter, it was announced to the congregation last Sunday, and today was his last Sunday at the church.
He is leaving for personal reasons and the family is moving back interstate to be closer to their wider family. I respect that and I think they've made the right choice. I am, however, heartbroken at their decision. It is a huge loss for the church and a huge loss to those of us who work there. A locum has been appointed and he will work part time, including Sundays, in the role of vicar whilst the church begins the long process of finding a new minister. After the last minister left it took 18 months to appoint the current... well, now former... minister. It's a process that should take a considerable amount of time. As Christians, we believe that leaders are appointed by God and are responsible for leading, caring, teaching and praying for the people under their care. It's a big deal, and as such we shouldn't go for the next person who happens to be looking for a job. We need to be prayerful and considerate... and we will be, but it leaves the church in an unsettled state. It's a difficult time; and right now is especially difficult because the resignation came as a surprise and we've had very little time to get used to it. We are unsettled and we are all very sad.
It's difficult for me too, even though I am not a parishioner of that church. I have spoken before about how much I love my job. A large part of that is because we have a great staff team. There are four of us and we work well together. It's been a joy to come to work. Now one quarter of the team has left and it leaves a hole for us. Additionally, roughly 50% of my job is just being PA to the minister... so my job will change quite a lot and I'm not sure yet how it's going to look.
If you're a praying person, please pray. This is a difficult time.
.
He is leaving for personal reasons and the family is moving back interstate to be closer to their wider family. I respect that and I think they've made the right choice. I am, however, heartbroken at their decision. It is a huge loss for the church and a huge loss to those of us who work there. A locum has been appointed and he will work part time, including Sundays, in the role of vicar whilst the church begins the long process of finding a new minister. After the last minister left it took 18 months to appoint the current... well, now former... minister. It's a process that should take a considerable amount of time. As Christians, we believe that leaders are appointed by God and are responsible for leading, caring, teaching and praying for the people under their care. It's a big deal, and as such we shouldn't go for the next person who happens to be looking for a job. We need to be prayerful and considerate... and we will be, but it leaves the church in an unsettled state. It's a difficult time; and right now is especially difficult because the resignation came as a surprise and we've had very little time to get used to it. We are unsettled and we are all very sad.
It's difficult for me too, even though I am not a parishioner of that church. I have spoken before about how much I love my job. A large part of that is because we have a great staff team. There are four of us and we work well together. It's been a joy to come to work. Now one quarter of the team has left and it leaves a hole for us. Additionally, roughly 50% of my job is just being PA to the minister... so my job will change quite a lot and I'm not sure yet how it's going to look.
If you're a praying person, please pray. This is a difficult time.
.
5 comments:
I'll be thinking of you and the church... I know first hand how unsettling these kinds of changes can be <><
Wow, that's a quick departure! I thought he may have chosen to allow the church 3 months before moving on ... not going to happen?
The church we recently left took about 2 years to appoint a new pastor. His first day was our last. I miss that town, I miss that church, and in the nighttime I fear this move was a bad idea (I've never been convinced of the wisdom of it.) I understand how unsettling it is not to have a church with a pastor.
I hope the three-legged team have the opportunity of good bonding in the interim and that the interim situation can be a good transition from one ministry to the next.
Load of prayer in the (heavenly) mail on behalf of you and your church.
I will be praying for you.
Turn and face the strain ...
Or whatever. You still have two brilliant team mates, and a boatload of parishioners to mourn with / help out with whatever needs doing! It is a terrible loss for the church but God uses everything, even the apparently awful stuff, to bring about the good. He's with us! My prayer is on this a lot, of course, and I won't forget you in there.
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