Hung Out To Dry Part 3

I do not want to leave the impression that the hierarchy of the denomination was solely to blame for the collapse of the church I pastored.

Ultimately, the responsibility rests with me. I am the one who made the decision to come here. I made the decisions about ministry, and other things.

One other word of caution to prospective ministers is appropriate at this point.

When interviewing for a ministry position, be careful, very careful. Everyone is always on their best behavior at an interview. The pastor and the congregation put their best foot forward. Listen carefully what the people say. Ask questions, lots of questions. Ask off the wall questions to accurately gauge a response.

At our interview, one person said (paraphrasing here), We want to work, we just need someone to show us what to do. A little over a year later the same individual said (paraphrasing, again), Before we had a pastor we did all the work, now it seems we are doing more.

Be careful. Jesus said, "Be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (Matthew 10:16).