:zzz::zzz:
WOW. that's about all I can say in response right after reading your post! It sounds to me like your church is having all sorts of issues. I know you don't want to hear this.... but I would pray about this to God because He may not want you to leave. He may need you to work there. When God's house is crumbling down, He needs strong Christians to build it back up. I understand about the "old people running the church" thing. We used to have that in my church. It wasn't as apparent as your church is, but still, they didn't like the "new" hymns we'd sing or evening standing up to sing. They were old fashioned. All I can say to that is... They are old, and they don't have much time left- I know that sounds bad, but you have to remember, they are from waaaaay back when, when things were simple and easy going. Older people DO NOT LIKE CHANGE. I say that about people who are around 70+ years old. They do not like it one bit... especially in their church. They feel a sense of ownership. The one way I would approach this is by talking with them. Telling them your intent. I, for the life of me, cannot understand why they would not want a youth program. Other than... they don't want kids and new families coming to their church. They are content with the way it is and with the members that go there. This is truely about as sad as it gets. Churches are meant to GROW, not stay the same year after year. You are going to have people come and go because of lifes changes, but it's clear that your elders don't want new people included... and this is WRONG.problem is with my church is the old people run it.They dont want to do anything and will squish anything we try to get going.All they want to do is show up and sleep and not to be bothered:zzz:. A few of us tried to get a youth ministry going,they didnt like that to much trouble:surprised:.so it went away.We have not had a work weekend in 1.5yrs. Mens study group went south.We used to have open BBQs to get locals there to talk to them and hope to get some in church.Several familys left when they were told childerns church was to much of a problem.They hired a new pastor and thats a story in its self. He has made comments and statements that or way off. He can talk for 30min and I could not for the life of me tell you what he said,going all over the place,but not saying anything if ya know what I mean.One of the decons left a note on the windshield of a co-worker that the wife had been talking to and finely got them there.that was there first and last sunday because of what the note said.they just said this is why we never went and wont come back.church is full of hipocrits.The note said this is MY parking space so dont park here again.very nice to say to first timers. This is just the tip of the iceburg,I could go on and on. This is why Im looking. Also how do ya feel about a gay deacon? another story
I dont want to sound demeaning but that sounds like a "dying" church to me.