Here's a letter I'm using with permission and Wednesday I'll give my reflections. Have you seen this? Have you seen it the other way, too, with a person getting in trouble for being too conservative?
Scot,
Scot,
Let me first say that your thoughts and writings has encouraged me
as a believer and pastor. I am a pastor of a church plant. We began just over four years ago. I would love your thoughts on something. This election I voted
for Barack Obama. This is a break in my voting pattern. I have never
voted for a democrat and typically the abortion issue has been the
primary issue that I filtered my choice through. Over the past many
years I have become frustrated with the abortion debate and the lack of
any movement due to partisan politics as well as my perception that the
church is only interested in the passing of a law. It is all or
nothing. Despite my frustrations on this specific issue, my decision
on who to vote for was in no way easy. I struggled with the complexity
of all the issues and specifically the abortion issue up to the last
minute. I shared with many close friends within my church my struggles
and they listened and discussed the issues with me.
In the days after the vote, many within my church came to know of
my voting decision as well as my wife's vote which was the same. It
wasn't something I was declaring but it became known. Since then I'm
aware of a few families that are leaving our church and another that is
close. I am in shock. I have been living life with these families.
Our values declared by our life and words. They've seen us pursue
doing foster care. They've seen my wife, me, and our teenage son continually pursue ways to
help the homeless in our community. They've heard me teach. In the
end, their perception is now that I am pro-abortion. I've been told
that I have likely disqualified myself from the pastorate. We are
heartbroken. I can't eat. I've missed work. I'm utterly devastated
by what my choice may do to our community of faith. We are not a big church so weathering storms like this gets very personal.
I guess my question is this, have I missed something? Have I
entered into this decision unaware as to the expectation on pastors in
regards to how they vote? Right now we feel very alone. To see people
who have lived life with me for years suddenly doubt my heart. They've
seem my core values displayed in our choices and sacrifices. All of
that has become void. Filling in a certain box with a marker has
completely changed how they see me.
I'd appreciate any thoughts.
In Christ,
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"I shared with many close friends within my church my struggles and they listened and discussed the issues with me. In the days after the vote, many within my church came to know of my voting decision as well as my wife's vote which was the same. It wasn't something I was declaring but it became known."
It seems to be that some of the congregation may be disappointed that they were not included in these discussions with you and your friends. Could it be that these members who are considering leaving may have felt "left out?" Certainly ideology is part of the issue here. I simply wonder if relationship is part of the issue also.
Colleague in ministry,
If you look to the parables of Jesus I think you will discover you have spread all of your seed on rocky ground or where the weeds could spring up and choke it. If this is all it takes for the disaffection and defection, then they were not too firmly held anyway. It hurts and it stinks, but it is what it is. Do not sell your spirit to a congregation - they will abuse you and lead you down an awful path. You are called to ministry, to serve God, not a community that has no more respect for itself than to abandon someone who has devoted time and energy to them. They are as fickle and stiff-necked as the Hebrews in the wilderness - and are probably fashioning their own "golden calf' somewhere else.
The flip side of this is is the warning NOT to enable your own Messiah complex. As Jesus advised his disciples who were sent out - simply kick the dust off your feet and move on. Neither a curse nor a blessing will cause them to come back. Now is the time to discover the true self God called to ministry.
Blessings and take care,
jestrfyl
I have come to the conclusion that most politicians are pretty much teh same. With one exception, to many republicans would gladly throw millions of people to the wolves for being on disability or SS retirement; And thne there is the issue of welfare. YET, I here no Christian recomendations.
I'm saddened but not surprised. I have been a Republican since I first registered to vote, but more and more lately I've felt the Republican party and evangelical Christians were becoming unhealthily aligned. So I switched to non-partisan registration. What freedom! I was able to look at both sides of issues without feeling the "us vs. them" mentality. And yes, for the first time ever, I voted Democrat for president. After a HUGE amount of discussion and thought and some prayed "sanity checks". Evangelical Christianity is becoming (or perhaps always has been) very superficial. There are things we do and (especially) don't do, but it's thought-free, and much of this attitude is reinforced from the pulpit.
Sigh, when did a vote for Obama become outright support for abortion rights? Yeah, I know he supports them but that's just one issue in an unfortunately grey muddle of talking points.
Brother, as Jestrfyl pointed out, it may be time to move on to your next place of service.
From your own description, you thoughtfully and prayerfully considered the options and made the choice you believed right. I don't happen to agree with you but democracy and Christian fellowship oblige me to respect your choice.
If the congregation cannot tolerate your voting choice and still accept you as their pastor, then this particular door of ministry may have closed. But I suspect God is no where near done with you yet and another door will open.
-- Ishmael
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