Church Leadership: Knowing When to Say “When”

by liquid008 @ www.sxc.hu

“the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way.  For there is a time and a way for everything, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.  For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be?” (Ecc. 8:5-7, ESV).

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Since being in church ministry, I have witnessed that one of the difficulties is knowing when to make a change in your church leadership position.

• When should the preacher move to a new work or remain steadfast in the face of tension and conflict?
• When should the elder resign who is facing health concerns and growing older?
• When should a deacon resign when his work has changed and he is not able to conscientiously give the desired time to the Lord’s work?

Some Personal Stories:

• I remember watching my granddad, who was an elder in the church for many years, grow feeble with bone cancer.  I remember him realizing it was time and it was necessary for him to step aside as an elder.  He knew it was time to say “when.”
• I admire older preachers who know when to say “when.”  I work with a respected brother here at Seven Oaks who preached for the church for over 15 years.  He was wise and knew it was time to step aside and let another preacher be hired.  He would go on to preach at a smaller church for years, but it was time to move away from full-time work.  The same brother, some 8 years later, was installed as one of our elders.  He served well, but also recognized when it was time to say “when.”
• I have been blessed to be encouraged and strengthened by John Dale, who preached at a since my time in Mayfield.  It has been so impressive to see John’s Christlike spirit and to see how the good Glendale Church in Murray transitioned over the last several years.  It seems they have made some good choices, because people knew when to say “when.”
• In the last couple of weeks, my own father, Bob Ketchum, who has served as an elder at my home church in Samford resigned.  It was a difficult decision.  I am proud of him and my mom.  They have offered a great service as leaders of the church.  It is hard to know when to say “when.”  But it is necessary.
• I think of some missionaries, like friends who have served in Asuncion, Paraguay, that dedicated so much energy and made so many sacrifices to go to the mission field.  Once there, with the work going well, it is hard to know when it is best for you, the work, and the Lord’s Kingdom to come home.  It is hard to know when to say “when.”

Some Thoughts: 

• I have been thinking more about this with dad’s decision for personal and health reasons.  Here are some of my thoughts.  Maybe they can help someone who is struggling to know if it is time to say “when.”  I like the scripture quoted above because this decision does lie heavily upon us because we don’t know the future and often struggle to know what is best.
• Remember, the church or kingdom of God is bigger than any one person. Church leaders need to remember that we are servants with an important job, but the existence and future of the church is not dependent upon any one person.  We are just servants.
• Pray.  Pray again.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray for discernment.  Don’t make a quick decision. Pray and read the Bible.  Ask others to pray.  Did I mention we should pray!
• Rely on the insights of others.  Preachers should talk to other preachers, close church members, their elders, and their wives.  Elders should discuss it with their families and other elders.
• Remember, you can be very effective in the Lord’s work, maybe even more so, in a different position.  We are Christians first.  Most of the work we do as church leaders we should continue to do as Christians.  As my granddad and dad said, “the eldership is not a lifetime appointment.”  This goes for holding a preaching position at a local church or the work of a deacon as well. Sometimes, we need to step-a-side for younger or different men to fill our shoes.
• This is a tough one. But we need to seek to move pride out of the way.  The above personal stories I told all illustrated humble men who put the church above their own pride and ego.
• Finally, church leadership is not a position to be grasped and clung too, but a ministry to be called to by the local church and God.  I don’t think we should box ourselves into a corner when considering these issues as if our service to the Lord ends with a resignation from church leadership.  I wish we had more ways for leaders to step aside for a time when they needed to, and then to be able to resume that work later.  Often in God’s providential ways, saying “no” to one area of ministry, only opens up new opportunities for service.  But we must open our eyes.  Rather than it being an end to a ministry, it is rather more helpful to see it as a transition to a different ministry.

I am sure there are many other good suggestions that could be added.  What are your thoughts?  May God help each of us to know when to say “when.”