Letters from Leavers
February 24, 2007
I first heard about the site, Letters from Leavers from my friend Mark. The following description is from their website:
People leave churches for many reasons. Some leave frustrated and hurt. Some leave simply because they have moved out of the area. Some people even leave church because they see church involvement as a hindrance to their faith and spiritual growth. Whatever your reasons, we want to hear from you.
The creators of this website love the church, but we are also aware of its flaws. In fact, the church has disappointed us too (and truth be told, we’ve failed the church and people like you at times). It is our desire to create an open venue for those that have left our midst to tell us their story. We hope to learn from your insights, correct our mistakes, and become the kind of community Jesus intended us to be.
I think this will prove to be a great site. This provides a window into the lives and stories of those who have been disappointed with the church. It is many of these types of people who are finding their way into some emerging churches. I think it will be important for anyone going into the ministry to sit with these letters for a bit - let these letters speak to them about the state of many churches today…below are just a few paragraphs from a letter entitled: “I Have Been to a Church Where…”
Tags: Church, Ecclesiology, EmergentI have been a part of a Church where a pastor planted a new church according to the denominational tradition. After doing things according to our quarter of a century old tradition for several years this community was absorbed into another that had been doing the same thing even longer. The pastor decided we couldn’t exist as a “church”. Failure to reinvent ourselves causes death.
I have been a part of a Church where after years of leading a congregation in a manner that was at one time considered to be revolutionary or at least evolutionary. The pastor heard from God about doing something else with his life. He asked the church if they wanted to continue in the fashion that they had been working but with a new pastor. Two-thirds of the congregation decided that it would be better to have nothing at all. So they dissolved. It is good to know when a group of people has run their course together.
Posted in 
Adam Walker Cleaveland: I am a 28 yr old 
February 24th, 2007 at 1:06 pm
Adam - Thanks for sharing this site. I appreciate your insight that these may be individuals coming to emerging churches. Also, the value for those entering ministry. What type of responses do you think would be appropriate - learning? specific feedback? Thanks!
January 13th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
When I hear about people leaving the church, what comes to mind is how are you focused and who are you focusing on. For years people have been just going to church to include myself; however in the midst of it all, one day I learned the real purpose for going to church. I Thank God for those who He has put in my path to teach me about Him. Church has become a social club, and according to the Word of God, that is not the true meaning for going to church. The Bible teaches the saints of God (paraphrasing) to assemble together which I believe has its purpose. The very utmost responsibility as a Christian is to lead people to Christ, (go out to the highways and the byways and compel my people). God is not a God of confusion; sometimes without God’s knowledge, and knowing our true purpose in live, we confuse it. When we include our agenda into God’s, confusion develops. God’s ways are not ours, and in order to really know His ways we must be inbounded with His Holy Spirit. We all have a purpose in life and are here for a reason. Jesus Christ was a servant as He walked the earth teaching about in summary of how God expects us to live. It starts with His greatest gift; His Love. We can’t even supply the air we breathe daily, so I often wonder why itd so much confusion. Therefore, I believe we should be where God wants us to be working and exalting Him. We need to get this thing together, because its not all about just going to church. My prayer to God is to instill in to us His Wisdom and His Ways developing a relationship with Him which will elevate His guidance on how to live for Him and through Him. In Jesus Name.
January 15th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Greetings from Maine. Years ago a preacher shared something from the pulpit that has stuck with me ever since. It goes like this: “Methods are many and principles are few, methods may change but principles never do.” As I ponder this statement I am reminded of the multiple prophetic warnings in Scripture regarding the state of christendom at the end of the age, and how sound teaching shall be supplanted by doctrines of demons. While I do not advocate legalism or support the unbiblical practices of extreme fundamentalism, I firmly believe the core truths of God’s Word must not be ignored or compromised. It’s getting harder and harder these days to maintain good theology in the midst of a culture that will not “endure” sound doctrine, so it alarms me when I here all this talk about “openness” and “progressive theology.” A church whose people are truly led of the Spirit, who possess the character and virtue of their blessed Lord, will conduct themselves in an appropriate and biblically balanced fashion, not only within the church, but in the face of a lost and dying world. They won’t need to revamp anything, as their theology and practice will be in perfect balance.
Sincerely,
Pastor Pete