I recently heard Dr. James Garlow speak in response to the DaVinci Code and was reminded of a book he wrote when he was the minister of lay development in Oklahoma City. Simply titled, “Partners in Ministry,” Garlow fluently addressed the topic of laity and pastors working together in his book.
It has been a joy to work alongside Pastors Gary Hashley and Peter Newland this past year. Their passion for sharing the Gospel and biblical teaching denotes exemplary pastoral leadership. The joy of partnering with them and their families in relationship to worship development was an exhilarating experience.
With their departure, it is time for me to leave the dance as well and to seek an opportunity for my family to worship and partner in ministry elsewhere. With our resources in worship development stripped now to a mere few people, I believe others need to wrestle with the reality of providing meaningful worship experiences at Nortonville Chapel.
This entire situation seems considerably more complicated than first appears. However, the responsibility of church leadership to partner in ministry has failed. Some have failed to support their pastors—some have failed to make decisions that would promote the wineskins to stretch and grow in order to contain the cataclysmic power of the Holy Spirit—and some have failed to fulfill their role as elders and deacons of a new testament church.
I also believe we have witnessed a failure of church governance in that many issues would have been resolved through the design of sufficient by-laws that enable appropriate decision making by church leadership. Research shows that 43 percent of forced-out ministers said a "faction" pushed them out, and 71 percent of those stated that the faction numbered 10 persons or less.
It appears that a small group of people were planning to ask for a pastoral resignation at the recent congregational meeting; which seems, at least, inappropriate if not contrary to most church by-laws which would require 2/3 of the voting membership to even approve such a motion. Although doubtful, I hope church leadership responds with appropriate disciplinary action to this group.
I am discouraged with behaviors that fail to promote unity: the turmoil surrounding the Nooma study and one of the most effective small groups in which I have ever participated; the inappropriate response to a meaningful women’s retreat that discouraged planners to consider a future endeavor; unacceptance of various musical forms used in worship even when a blended design was encouraged; allowing a staff member to remain employed when they chose not to attend; and a failure of the church board to communicate openly and frequently with the congregation.
We will miss many wonderful people in our departure. As I watched my mother hang on to life this afternoon in the nursing home, I again realized that life is about cycles—some short, some long. This has not been a long tenure, but one that has allowed me to partner in worship development and for my family to enjoy many wonderful relationships as we grew in God’s grace.