Why some good Christian leaders are compelled to leave their posts
A pastor packed up his books after only four years. His final Sunday was unexpected and heavy – there were quiet hugs, tears and a congregation wondering what had just happened. The board had made the decision, but the congregation didn’t really know why. There were rumours. There was hurt. But there were few answers.
A principal at the Christian school resigned out of the blue. Teachers stood in stunned silence. Parents in the child pickup line exchanged confused looks. The person who seemed to be the school’s steady hand was gone. Again, no one really knew why.
The same thing happened at a beloved Christian charity. The executive director’s departure landed with a thud no one saw coming. Staff gathered in a cramped meeting room to listen to a goodbye that felt far too soon. There were no accusations, no drama – just sadness, gratitude for what was and a lingering sense of unfinished work.
These are all true stories, though the details have been removed to protect the people involved.
You may have experienced something like this. I have, both firsthand as the former Canadian ministries director of the Christian Reformed Church, and through my subsequent work as a leadership consultant. There is a common thread to many of these stories.
Frankly, the way we govern Christian institutions is out of date, increasingly less effective and often leads to good people being forced to leave before their time. The models used by most Christian institutions are, to use a biblical metaphor, an old wineskin.
If the word governance feels boring or bureaucratic, I get it. But in reality it’s critical – and understanding there are improved ways of overseeing our institutions may be the Aha your ministry needs…
