41 PRINCIPLES ON BEING APPOINTED/ELECTED TO PASTOR AN EXISTING CHURCH (PART 2 OF 5):

 41 PRINCIPLES ON BEING APPOINTED/ELECTED TO PASTOR AN EXISTING CHURCH (PART 2 OF 5):

9.               Allow people to express themselves, in a respectable manner. These people have put years of sacrifice into the church and you do not want them to feel like you are diminishing their contribution. If you hear them out, they are more apt to hearing you out.

10.            Do not get a big ego and think that the entire church loves you. No one gets 100% support. Jesus did not have 100% (He said one was a “devil”). Be watchful.

11.            Some of the people you want to get rid of are really for you. Some of the people you want to keep, you really need to get rid of.

12.            Do not belittle your fellow pastors that are church planters. You inherited a building and large membership. They must start from scratch. Even if you came in after a church split, you do not have the stress of starting everything from scratch. Stay humble. The first shall be last and the last shall be first. So, give God the glory.

13.            Do not complain about everything (for example, your salary, etc.). You came in saying that, “I’ll sweep the floors.” Keep that same humility you had when you were campaigning for the church.

14.            You may come into a church that is divided. Each faction may try to win you over. Do not take sides. Love everyone. Treat everyone fairly. You are to be a source of unity, not division.

15.            If the church has been in a denomination the last 60 years, do not come in and take them independent or into another denomination. If you feel led to be independent, then you should have started an independent church. Respect the heritage of the ministry that you have been appointed or elected to.

16.            The church may have long term relationships that have been developed before you got there. For example, it may be the tradition that the little community group in the neighborhood, always has the pastor of the church to come and give a Christmas homily on Christmas Day. Make the sacrifice and do it. Do not burn bridges that the church took many years to build

 

To be continued….

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