The haters are pissed at me again, and staying away from worship.

[Critters2]

I am NOT going after them this time. I actually think they're absence will be good for the church. They can take their bitter sense of entitlement and sleep in on Sundays, as far as I'm concerned.

How was your Sunday?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Fine, although the humidity seems to have made the choir a bit spacy

At the pre-service rehearsal, we had trouble with two anthems that should be simple, although we pulled it all together for the service.

In the summer we merge the 9:00AM (contemporary) and 11:00AM (traditional) service into one at 10:00AM, but both camps complain.

As far as the complainers in your church go, leaving may be the healthiest solution. There were three women in the small church I attended in Portland who really had a problem with the rector. (I'll admit that the rector was problematic, but I didn't react as strongly as some people.) Finally the malcontents decided that staying in the parish was bad for their spiritual health, because all they could think about during the service was how angry they were. They left for some place where they were happier, and the parish survived.

In fact, if your troublemakers are poisoning the atmosphere, your church may be healthier and therefore more appealing to newcomers after they're gone.

[supernova]

2. You might be better off without them

in the long run.

With the bitter air gone, you have more of an opportunity to attract people who would be helpful and optomistic members of the church. If I lived near you, I'd certainly want to hear you preach. :thumbsup:

Sorry, you are having a tough time, mycritters. :hug:

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. Sometimes a biopsy reveals cancer, which must be cut out.

I'm all for dialog, conflict resolution (Lombard has great stuff for churches to use), and whatnot - but some people are just worthless obnoxious shitfuckers who will never dialog, resoluteificate their conflicts, compromise, or just learn to sit back and shut the fuck up, and those people we should happily push out of the congregation and wave to them as we smile broadly and say "Y'all never come back, ya'hear?"

More pastors (and church boards) need to stand up to the bullies and shitfuckers (or using the Lombard terminology, the jackass useless thugs and fuckwits who live at "Level 4: Get the other person to leave" or "Level 5: destroy") and get them out of congregations. Forgiveness and grace, yes; but a cancer needs to be removed, even forcefully and without regret about the action.

We waste way too much time in the church being "nice" instead of being faithful.

[Critters2]

4. Indeed. I mean, what kind of person is pissed to the point of threatening to leave

because the damn "God is Still Speaking" banner was shredded by a wind storm (again), and the Trustees aren't sure they're going to replace? They haven't made a decision yet, but the very possibility of not having the banner is enough to piss 'em off....and, of course, blame it on me, even though, in this case, I'm an innocent bystander.

What kind of person?! A, umm, Level 4. That's what kind of person!

[davidinalameda]

5. WTF?

have them take up a collection to replace the banner if its so important

of course, my church is a still speaking congregation and I know I like the banner, but come to think of it, we need to replace ours as well

[supernova]

9. That's it?!

That's their big bee in their bonnets? A weather-beaten banner?

Man, they're the ones with the issues, not you.

[RevCheesehead]

6. Jesus friggin' Christ on a cracker!!!

Hon, believe me - you are better off without them. In my one church, "those people" have succeeded in driving off everyone else - almost all middle-aged and young families, as well as several pastors... and now they've set their eyes on me.

I'm about ready to pack it in and work at Starbucks. x(

Don't mind me - I just got back from Annual Conference, and I am now, more than ever, in hate with the institution. I still love Jesus, but damn - - that church doesn't look anything like him.

Anyways - back to you - DON'T waste your time trying to get them back. And for heaven's sake, don't ever doubt your convictions.

:hug::hug::hug:

[Divine Discontent]

7. !!

:wow:

[supernova]

8. Aww,

:hug:

Being a minister is such a tough job; I admire both you and mycritters for it.