“Do you have any suggestions where I can go so I can gossip about you and everyone in the church? I mean, I was only the biggest drain on your resources and time and I really don’t want to grow, but I want mega attention even though I’m just spinning my wheels. I.m not going to tell you, but the reason I’m leaving is that you refused me any more one on one time until I’ve put what we’ve learned to use and I think its your duty to give me all the one on one time I want.”…I think we’ve all known this guy!!
I can’t imagine any of the clergy I know thinking that if they were asked that question. Actually, they might be glad to be rid of me.
Or is that how YOU feel, David, when someone wants to leave your church??
What dyou mean, Fishon? What’s interesting about it? I hate it. It makes me t hink of all the people the church has burned at the stake over the centuries and killed in other ways. ‘Consigned to the flames’ – huh. I’d have been burned as a witch, I’m sure. Except they usually hung them in England.
I was having a similar conversation with someone today and from the confused, frustrated look on their face I think they were thinking the same thing about me.
Thanks for posting that, David. I put my ministry on hiatus a little over a year ago following the incident I alluded to and didn’t realize until I wrote the comment that I still had a lot of work to do on it. It involved a lot more than what I mentioned, including a threat of bodily harm. If it hadn’t been for your cartoon, I wouldn’t have realized it.
tiggy,
notice the name right under the guy the NP is characterizing as bad. Just interesting to me.
Ah tiggy, there are places where all who called themselves Christian would be burnt in one form or fashion. Persection of the saints, over the centuries, was and is not too selective.
fishon
preacherlady… ah… so many layers.
fishon: what? your response is even more interesting. would you rather i put my name under the guy in flames? i can if it’ll make you happy.
“Do you have any suggestions of where I can go where the congregation doesn’t feel that their best days were in the 1960s before all of that civil rights legislation? Do you know of a place where your opinions are not completely ignored by the Council? I realize that the church is made up mostly of retired people who don’t have anything else to do but church, which is why they get upset when it takes longer than two weeks to replace a choir director. The fact that they’re retired also has a lot to do with their contempt of worship music that doesn’t sound like a funeral dirge. Hopefully when you’re imagining me burning in Hell, you’re also considering how much I used to love it here and the fact that it’s not you, it’s THEM. Hopefully you’re also considering how hurt I am because there are a number of people that I’ll genuinely miss, including you. However, in recent years this place hurts me more than it gives me joy and I need to move on.”
Why no, David, I like it right where it is. Right under the guy with the lousy way of thinking.
And I don’t believe I even intimated that your name should be moved. And the little man I was speaking about is the thinker, not the image of his thoughts.
Ah, but my sarcasm does not take away from my thoughts, you have great talent.
fishon
I would think a pastor’s feelings would be different depending on who’s leaving. He could be sad, mad, annoyed, confused, or secretly thankful!
I imagine the scene above where someone TELLS the pastor they are leaving is not common. I’d think they usually just drift away or suddenly disappear on you, leaving you to wonder why. Ofcourse in a small church it’s harder to disappear without others noticing.
I left cause I didn’t feel free to disagree with doctrine. It would be interesting to know the various reasons people leave.
Gene…ah,yes…I know so well…I was on the staff of such a church. They couldn’t understand why they weren’t growing and , in fact, losing members. The board was made up of descendents of the founders of the church and by golly, this is the way things always were and this is the way they were going to stay. Keep the rich tradition. Only an organ and hymns from an archaic hymnal allowed. We couldn’t minister to the homeless in the park across the street because it would upset the ladies on the banner committee and they wouldn’t feel safe. We couldn’t have a Spanish service or one in Korean because this is America and they needed to learn English. Hookers and drug dealers did their business in our parking lot at night. We decided to minister to them, and with outside funding and the bishop’s permission, we did.. Someone from one of the old families burned the church down. Before this, people would leave in exactly the scenario you mentioned. Some people get old and too set in their ways. I’m 70 and if I didn’t have a definite purpose for being there I wouldn’t stay in a church like that for 5 min. and I know a lot of other seniors who feel the same way. Lively worship…lots of young people…meaningful ministry…and people of all backgrounds and circumstances.
I love this cartoon. Isn’t it funny that when someone leaves a church it’s almost as if he or she never existed there?…even if they were a church leader or pastor.
I loved your comment. Leaving a church and waiting for others to react can be a great lesson in humility! We thought we were important and loved. Then you see that life goes on fine there without you! Oh, but they are supposedly praying and concerned about all the lost out there. It’s so ridiculous.
I did realize some people noticed and actually did miss me a little. I’m not really faulting them. I guess they were respecting my decision. But they certainly had no desire to hear my thoughts.
It truly is humorous once you get past the initial hurt. It makes you realize that the affection they have for you runs not all THAT deep! I guess it goes both ways though. I did miss them, but knew my Bible questions would not be respected.
David Hayward is an artist trapped in a pastor's body, stripping to the essential.
Been there. Thought that.
Hilarious, though sadly true.
Interesting where the little man is standing.
fishon
now that’s naked!
“Do you have any suggestions where I can go so I can gossip about you and everyone in the church? I mean, I was only the biggest drain on your resources and time and I really don’t want to grow, but I want mega attention even though I’m just spinning my wheels. I.m not going to tell you, but the reason I’m leaving is that you refused me any more one on one time until I’ve put what we’ve learned to use and I think its your duty to give me all the one on one time I want.”…I think we’ve all known this guy!!
I can’t imagine any of the clergy I know thinking that if they were asked that question. Actually, they might be glad to be rid of me.
Or is that how YOU feel, David, when someone wants to leave your church??
What dyou mean, Fishon? What’s interesting about it? I hate it. It makes me t hink of all the people the church has burned at the stake over the centuries and killed in other ways. ‘Consigned to the flames’ – huh. I’d have been burned as a witch, I’m sure. Except they usually hung them in England.
I was having a similar conversation with someone today and from the confused, frustrated look on their face I think they were thinking the same thing about me.
Vague resemblance to my ex….
Thanks for posting that, David. I put my ministry on hiatus a little over a year ago following the incident I alluded to and didn’t realize until I wrote the comment that I still had a lot of work to do on it. It involved a lot more than what I mentioned, including a threat of bodily harm. If it hadn’t been for your cartoon, I wouldn’t have realized it.
tiggy,
notice the name right under the guy the NP is characterizing as bad. Just interesting to me.
Ah tiggy, there are places where all who called themselves Christian would be burnt in one form or fashion. Persection of the saints, over the centuries, was and is not too selective.
fishon
preacherlady… ah… so many layers.
fishon: what? your response is even more interesting. would you rather i put my name under the guy in flames? i can if it’ll make you happy.
Preacherlady, sometime it goes like this:
“Do you have any suggestions of where I can go where the congregation doesn’t feel that their best days were in the 1960s before all of that civil rights legislation? Do you know of a place where your opinions are not completely ignored by the Council? I realize that the church is made up mostly of retired people who don’t have anything else to do but church, which is why they get upset when it takes longer than two weeks to replace a choir director. The fact that they’re retired also has a lot to do with their contempt of worship music that doesn’t sound like a funeral dirge. Hopefully when you’re imagining me burning in Hell, you’re also considering how much I used to love it here and the fact that it’s not you, it’s THEM. Hopefully you’re also considering how hurt I am because there are a number of people that I’ll genuinely miss, including you. However, in recent years this place hurts me more than it gives me joy and I need to move on.”
Why no, David, I like it right where it is. Right under the guy with the lousy way of thinking.
And I don’t believe I even intimated that your name should be moved. And the little man I was speaking about is the thinker, not the image of his thoughts.
Ah, but my sarcasm does not take away from my thoughts, you have great talent.
fishon
I would think a pastor’s feelings would be different depending on who’s leaving. He could be sad, mad, annoyed, confused, or secretly thankful!
I imagine the scene above where someone TELLS the pastor they are leaving is not common. I’d think they usually just drift away or suddenly disappear on you, leaving you to wonder why. Ofcourse in a small church it’s harder to disappear without others noticing.
I left cause I didn’t feel free to disagree with doctrine. It would be interesting to know the various reasons people leave.
Gene…ah,yes…I know so well…I was on the staff of such a church. They couldn’t understand why they weren’t growing and , in fact, losing members. The board was made up of descendents of the founders of the church and by golly, this is the way things always were and this is the way they were going to stay. Keep the rich tradition. Only an organ and hymns from an archaic hymnal allowed. We couldn’t minister to the homeless in the park across the street because it would upset the ladies on the banner committee and they wouldn’t feel safe. We couldn’t have a Spanish service or one in Korean because this is America and they needed to learn English. Hookers and drug dealers did their business in our parking lot at night. We decided to minister to them, and with outside funding and the bishop’s permission, we did.. Someone from one of the old families burned the church down. Before this, people would leave in exactly the scenario you mentioned. Some people get old and too set in their ways. I’m 70 and if I didn’t have a definite purpose for being there I wouldn’t stay in a church like that for 5 min. and I know a lot of other seniors who feel the same way. Lively worship…lots of young people…meaningful ministry…and people of all backgrounds and circumstances.
LOL-ing…
This is one of my favorites.
I love this cartoon. Isn’t it funny that when someone leaves a church it’s almost as if he or she never existed there?…even if they were a church leader or pastor.
Denny,
I loved your comment. Leaving a church and waiting for others to react can be a great lesson in humility! We thought we were important and loved. Then you see that life goes on fine there without you! Oh, but they are supposedly praying and concerned about all the lost out there. It’s so ridiculous.
I did realize some people noticed and actually did miss me a little. I’m not really faulting them. I guess they were respecting my decision. But they certainly had no desire to hear my thoughts.
It truly is humorous once you get past the initial hurt. It makes you realize that the affection they have for you runs not all THAT deep! I guess it goes both ways though. I did miss them, but knew my Bible questions would not be respected.