Whaaaaaaatt???? What's happening in Canada??

[TRIPLE E]

Originally Posted by D&J

Who is going to Sussex to pastor, seems to be the million dollar question!!

Wonder why it is so hard to find the right guy?

Or did they miss the "will of God" [now there is a ancient and foreign term] when they took the only vote so far?

Or was it not "time" for the former pastor to leave?

Wow, my mind is in the wondering mood this morning... but only about Sussex!!

I guess it's hard for the church board to make up their mind,if given the opportunity the church could decide quite quickly no doubt.

[TrueNorth]

Originally Posted by D&J

Who is going to Sussex to pastor, seems to be the million dollar question!!

Wonder why it is so hard to find the right guy?

Or did they miss the "will of God" [now there is a ancient and foreign term] when they took the only vote so far?

Or was it not "time" for the former pastor to leave?

Wow, my mind is in the wondering mood this morning... but only about Sussex!!

Who did they vote on? What was the result?
Guess I'm way out of the loop.
How many does the UPC church in Sussex average now? I thought they were about a hundred - is that ballpark?
I'm assuming that St. Stephen is about the same.
I do know that SA was the first to preach in St. Stephen following the pastors farewell - that Sunday pm in fact. An old friend preaching for an old friend.

[Maple Leaf]

Originally Posted by D&J

Who is going to Sussex to pastor, seems to be the million dollar question!!

Wonder why it is so hard to find the right guy?

Or did they miss the "will of God" [now there is a ancient and foreign term] when they took the only vote so far?

Or was it not "time" for the former pastor to leave?

Wow, my mind is in the wondering mood this morning... but only about Sussex!!

I'm with William Sherman on this one: “If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.”

[Maple Leaf]

Originally Posted by TrueNorth

Who did they vote on? What was the result?
Guess I'm way out of the loop.
How many does the UPC church in Sussex average now? I thought they were about a hundred - is that ballpark?
I'm assuming that St. Stephen is about the same.
I do know that SA was the first to preach in St. Stephen following the pastors farewell - that Sunday pm in fact. An old friend preaching for an old friend.

Try to pass it off as old friends week if you want, but I think that ESM is "looking our way."

PS: If you have to number the people before you'll put your name in the hat, you're too carnal to be their pastor.

[TrueNorth]

Originally Posted by D&J

Who is going to Sussex to pastor, seems to be the million dollar question!!

Wonder why it is so hard to find the right guy?

Or did they miss the "will of God" [now there is a ancient and foreign term] when they took the only vote so far?

Or was it not "time" for the former pastor to leave?

Wow, my mind is in the wondering mood this morning... but only about Sussex!!

The times they are a changing.
I think there are several factors, not sure any of them are good.
* Too many guys who have 8-10 years of experience are dropping out of pastoring.
* Older men are retiring instead of continuing to pastor until they drop in the pulpit.
* More emphasis on secular education
* Ministry as a career rather than a calling. If it is only a career you will switch careers.
* Churches realize that they are paying good money and are no longer willing to just accept a warm living body.
* Expectations have gone through the roof.

It's interesting that Bro. Trevor Neil predicted this ministerial shortage 10+ years ago in a study he did for the Canada Conference.

[TrueNorth]

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

Try to pass it off as old friends week if you want, but I think that ESM is "looking our way."

PS: If you have to number the people before you'll put your name in the hat, you're too carnal to be their pastor.

Sometimes ESM makes you scratch your head and go "wow".
Somebody needs to put their name in the hat. As for me, the last two churches I pastored I started out with 20-25. Any bigger than that would be too intimidating.

Originally Posted by TrueNorth

I do know that SA was the first to preach in St. Stephen following the pastors farewell - that Sunday pm in fact. An old friend preaching for an old friend.

This is amazing to me!!!

Sorry about that, but it is...

Originally Posted by Maple Leaf

I'm with William Sherman on this one: “If nominated, I will not run; if elected, I will not serve.”

AMEN!!!

I am in total agreement with that statement!!

Originally Posted by TrueNorth

Who did they vote on? What was the result?
Guess I'm way out of the loop.
How many does the UPC church in Sussex average now? I thought they were about a hundred - is that ballpark?
I'm assuming that St. Stephen is about the same.

Sussex voted on one of the church elders son and he did not get it as is apparent. Or do you mean what wa the result of him not getting it?

Sussex averaging 100???? Ummmm, not so sure that would be correct...

[ALVIN]

Originally Posted by TrueNorth

The times they are a changing.
I think there are several factors, not sure any of them are good.
* Too many guys who have 8-10 years of experience are dropping out of pastoring.
* Older men are retiring instead of continuing to pastor until they drop in the pulpit.
* More emphasis on secular education
* Ministry as a career rather than a calling. If it is only a career you will switch careers.
* Churches realize that they are paying good money and are no longer willing to just accept a warm living body.
* Expectations have gone through the roof.

It's interesting that Bro. Trevor Neil predicted this ministerial shortage 10+ years ago in a study he did for the Canada Conference.

I remember Bro. Neil's report, and the guy who got up after him and said, "I don't know about numbers, but we're having (or going to have) revival."

Go to the AD web site and look for active pastors under 40 years old. You can count them on a mill worker's fingers. It ain't any better in the ACOP or Independent churches either.