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I've been attending the same church the past 4 1/2 years. It is the place that brought me to God. The people there are phenomenal and the pastor is a true blessing. 
He is genuinely kind, caring, compassionate, intelligent and understanding and always there for anyone who needs to talk, has a problem or a question about God.
Well, Sunday we got the news that he's been reassigned to another church and his last day with us will be the first Sunday in June. The whole sanctuary was nothing but sniffles and tears and tissues. He's been with our church for 16 years which I know is practically unheard of in Methodist Ministry (I believe the average is 4 - 7) but I'm heartbroken, as most of us are. We are a very open, loving, busy church. We're not very big, 120 - 140 on Sunday morning but we are very busy and involved. Our women's unit, men's unit, youth group, all depend very highly on Pastor Bob and he never disappoints. I'm not saying he's perfect, he is rather liberal for some of the older members and likes to push boundaries in worship, charity, etc., but it's ALL for the glory of God, all for the benefit of others, to open our eyes and our hearts to the beauty that is God's world.
We have no idea yet who we are getting, except that he is male. I am praying that who ever we get will be accepted, even embraced, and open to all we do and want to do here. I grieves me so to think we might lose members over this. We will all miss our Pastor dearly, he is so very loved here but we also want him to have a smooth transition and I pray the new church embraces him, they don't know yet how lucky they are.
I'm wondering how anyone here dealt with a new pastor coming in, especially if they were very happy with the one who left. I know I'll get the good and bad, but maybe you can help me avoid some of the pitfalls. Thank you all and God Bless
He is genuinely kind, caring, compassionate, intelligent and understanding and always there for anyone who needs to talk, has a problem or a question about God. Well, Sunday we got the news that he's been reassigned to another church and his last day with us will be the first Sunday in June.
The whole sanctuary was nothing but sniffles and tears and tissues. He's been with our church for 16 years which I know is practically unheard of in Methodist Ministry (I believe the average is 4 - 7) but I'm heartbroken, as most of us are. We are a very open, loving, busy church. We're not very big, 120 - 140 on Sunday morning but we are very busy and involved. Our women's unit, men's unit, youth group, all depend very highly on Pastor Bob and he never disappoints. I'm not saying he's perfect, he is rather liberal for some of the older members and likes to push boundaries in worship, charity, etc., but it's ALL for the glory of God, all for the benefit of others, to open our eyes and our hearts to the beauty that is God's world.We have no idea yet who we are getting, except that he is male. I am praying that who ever we get will be accepted, even embraced, and open to all we do and want to do here. I grieves me so to think we might lose members over this. We will all miss our Pastor dearly, he is so very loved here but we also want him to have a smooth transition and I pray the new church embraces him, they don't know yet how lucky they are.
I'm wondering how anyone here dealt with a new pastor coming in, especially if they were very happy with the one who left. I know I'll get the good and bad, but maybe you can help me avoid some of the pitfalls. Thank you all and God Bless
