Bible teacher Jack Spender tackles a tough but relevant
subject in a post called “When Should an Aged Elder Step Back?”
It’s a good question, and one to which the answer is not necessarily
about the number of years you’ve lived, but more about effectiveness and
planning for the future of the local church.
The author is Brethren, but his reflections and suggestions
are relevant to any Christians that still observe the New Testament principle
of recognizing or ordaining elders, with or without a paid pastor. There is a
time to serve and a time to get out, and far too many do not recognize when the
latter has arrived.
And I remember thinking “One day that’ll be me”. Because it
will.
It’s a wise man who leaves before he is asked to leave, and
a wiser man who leaves before anyone thinks about asking.
As we have discussed here before, leaving is easier said than done when nobody steps up to replace you. Under such circumstances, and with need for the work to be done, it’s understandable why some elders hang on.
As we have discussed here before, leaving is easier said than done when nobody steps up to replace you. Under such circumstances, and with need for the work to be done, it’s understandable why some elders hang on.
Still, Mr. Spender makes some prudent suggestions about how to let
go and reflects on both the consequences of resigning and, more importantly,
the consequences of NOT resigning, which can be a much bigger problem. I mean,
how do you ask someone to leave who is no longer effective but has served
faithfully for years?
As one elder has frequently said, “My job is to work myself
out of a job”. If that’s your attitude, leaving a work you value does not have
to destroy your ego, threaten your manhood or fail to leave the legacy you
desire. It’s part of the work itself, and a part that needs to be done well.
This is worthwhile reading for anyone with responsibility in
the Church, and its principles apply to any ongoing labor of love for Christ.
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