Scott Williams posted his thoughts on leaving the ministry behind. If you ever wanted to peak inside the heart and mind of a vocational minister, this is your chance. Even pastors who are fired up about ministry, serving in a place where they are well-suited to the task, and surrounded by fellow workers who are energetic, there are still seasons of extreme depression and deep hurt. Many of us are “people-pleasers” who are hurt when we fail to meet expectations. We know, intellectually, that some expectations are unrealistic, even counterproductive, but it doesn’t always ameliorate the sense of failure. I think worship leaders may be particularly susceptible to these frustrations - we often stand in the crucible between the expectations of the pastor, the congregations, and the artists, trying to balance competing visions for worship arts with our own abilities, values, and driving spiritual intuitions.
I should counter-balance this by saying that there is deep joy in ministry as well. Getting to see people’s lives change, those moments of transformational worship that come in the midst of a spirit-filled congregation; vocational ministers often get a front row seat to important seasons of people’s lives. When things are functioning in healthy ways, we are blessed to be part of the great project of the expansion of the kingdom, which is not something to take lightly. We are also part of a broad fraternity of fellow ministers who are compassionate, driven, thoughtful, and surprisingly funny.
None of us are as effective as we want to be. All of us are blessed beyond deserving. Most of us have deep scars from the pain of past ministry failures. Most of us can reflect on moments of eternal consequence and personal revival that reconfirm the call.
So there it is! No great new insights, just an open look at the frustrations of a brother who is leaving, a sense of commiseration with his reasons, but a hopeful look forward.
selah.