A long time ago, our church had a group of people within its membership that became dissatisfied with our pastor at the time... they became very active at trying to stir up dissent within the congregation and succeeded in turning some people against the pastor. What followed was the most unpleasant, disappointing thing I have ever witnessed in a church. So many people turned against the pastor that he felt he was no longer able to steer the church towards any long-term goals, and he resigned... there was such a large number of folks who supported him that the resignation was actually refused in a business meeting, and we all hoped that things would settle down. They did not, and a few weeks later he resigned for good and left. About a fourth of the membership left too. As much as all that hurt our church, and as many sour feelings were left in the wake of the departure, we eventually found another pastor with a different style of preaching and leading that put us on another path to the future.
It is incredibly disappointing to see people do such horrendous things when they don't like a pastor or there is some other issue at stake... I've continued to attend this same church and altho my faith in my fellow church members has been damaged I still go there and find a lot of benefits in the current pastor's teachings and the other activities that are going on now.
SB
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"All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king..." SGGardner Artwww.SouthernShireFarm.com
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