Looking back, I did that in every job I had before coming to the ministry. I have served in mildly conflicted churches and severely conflicted churches; others just needed something different after a long time with a former pastor. The thing that bothers me the most is that the conflicts were primarily the result of poor leadership on the part of a pastor.

For some reason, many pastors seem to think that they can do anything they want, and the Session and the congregation will let them do it. It makes for a very confusing dynamic. One of the things I really like about the Presbyterian denomination is that the pastor is not the one in charge. We got it right when we changed our titles back to the Pastor’s as the Teaching Elder and the Session as the Ruling Elders. God’s church functions much more effectively when the Ruling Elders and the Teaching Elder work together under the direction and guidance of the Holy Spirit. When those roles get altered, the church pays the price.

And it always amazes me that the congregations know even with poor leadership there is something about God’s church they refuse to lose. So, I have been honored to serve these 9 churches and try to model what I see as good and effective leadership. I am overjoyed to be serving both Slateville and Slate Ridge these past 4 years with more years to come. I look forward whatever it is God has in store for us.