A little part of me died today. So pathetic. Feel sorry for me.

I know that title was dramatic, but it’s apt. I guess it’s over. Today, after church, I was ambushed at an ad council meeting. The main concern was that I am refusing to allow the previous pastor come back to do a wedding. I stressed I would be happy to allow him to participate in the wedding, but that he was not the pastor covenental community yadda yadda yadda. The conversation became about how inflexible I am, but the only other example offered was something else I had met them half way on. The least healthy leader in the church (and that’s saying something) resigned from all his positions, but I doubt he meant it. He’ll probably come back next week and pretend nothing ever happened. I hope he was serious, but I’m pretty sure he wasn’t.

I called the DS, and he talked to me for a few minutes. He suggested that I try to contact the couple and again offer to let the previous pastor come back. Not necessarily change the offer, but just to remake it. It sounds like a good plan. Of course, I was hoping he was going to tell me not to worry about a wedding in September because I wouldn’t still be there then. Of course he didn’t, and of course he shouldn’t have even if it were true.

The sad thing is that no one was listening to themselves. Or to me. They were calling me inflexible, but no one esle was budging on their positions. One woman said I should be in prayer and open to God calling me to be more humble. I asked her why she thought I would be doing something that causes this much tension if I didn’t think God wanted me to. Instead of answering , she just pretended I didn’t say anything.

So here I am. Unless there is a large exodus of unhealthy leaders (and if everyone who threatened to quit did, there will be), there is nothing left for me to do here. Things are too toxic for any ministry to occur. If they do leave, we can begin the work of building a healthy church. It will practically be a new church start. The twenty or so people left could become a good church. Maybe. But right now I’m done with them. All I’m doing is waiting to leave. Please be in prayer.