7 Things to Think About before Quitting at Church

I’ve left the staff of 2 different churches in 10 years.  I look back on both as great experiences where I learned a lot.  To this day I can call my old boss and not only would he take my phone call but we can a conversation that says we care about each other.  I’m not saying that we are best friends or anything, but we are friends.  This is HUGE in my book.  One of the number one things that I think people on staff at a church get wrong is how they leave.

I don’t know what it is about this time of year but I know of quite a few people who are leaving, quitting, or being released from their ministry position (staff or volunteer) at a church. Maybe it is because the person went to a conference and came back and said things have to change or maybe it is because it is the end of the school year and the summer is a good time to move. Whatever the reason, here are 7 things that I think we get wrong when leaving a church.

1. It’s a ME vs THEM separation.  Isn’t this about THE church and THE kingdom and not about YOU?
2. We don’t replace ourselves. The ministry should be in good hands when you leave. Not knowing what hands they will be left is in your fault.  Just saying…
3. We think it is all BUSINESS or all PERSONAL. It is never this simple and I hope it has to do with a CALLING more than the other 2.
4. We burn bridges with our former bosses.  The church world is fairly small.  I could make 4 phone calls and almost guarantee that I can hear a story about how you left at your church.  It’s not worth leaving in a blaze of glory.
5. We take stuff from our former churches that isn’t ours.  If the church bought the Wii or the iPhone 4 or whatever then you should offer to give it back.  Yes even if you have been “storing” it at your house between Sundays or Wednesdays.
6. Some even attack from a distance on social media. Again, you are not proving anything accept the fact that your next employer may not hire you.
7. We think things will fail when we leave.  The church that you work at now is not “fortunate” that you are “blessing” them because you work there.

Here is my challenge to every person looking this season to leave their church or for some reason just got let go:  LEAVE WELL!  The greater church as a whole needs you too.