[PastorZack]

How many of ya'll have been through them and how have they turned out. This is the first time that I am going through one as a Associate Pastor and its been crazy. I have to admit, you can see the real bad side of Christians come out of this.

Prayers are needed just to keep the flock here safe from the wolves. Thanks and God Bless

[4everfsu]

Been thru a couple of them. They are like a divorce.

[blwall1416]

Been through it with my dad as the pastor. It all boils down to preferences......frickin' preferences.

"I don't like contemporary music"...."we HAVE to have special song every Sunday"..."we've never done it that way before"...."the kids from the bus are staining the carpet".

It amazes me how much adults can revert to the playground mentality. All-in-all, it was asinine.

[Sly Fox]

Some splits are actually great if they can keep things civil. They can remove the acrimony while allowing two groups to move in different directions (sort of like an unitentional church plant). The key thing is for everyone involved to be amicable and wish the other side the best.

[PastorZack]

Unfortunately, sly, it is becoming personal. It didn't have to be, but people are making it. Right now, it is an extremely difficult time at our church. I preached this past Sunday and emplored all involved to 'try' to worship together. How much some people did is between them and God, but I know I had a sweet time of it, before I walked back into the fire, so to speak.

It is frustrating to no end. If there is one thing that should be hammered away at in the seminary is how to relate to people and make the church work. It is so hard. But God be the Glory, I thank him for his provisions.

[TDDance234]

It's frustrating - and like blwall said earlier, 95% of the time they are over preferences. Be careful with what you say and keep a detailed record of conversations you have. Sadly, when it becomes personal, you've got to have some accountability somewhere or their rallying call will be to have you fired.

Praying for you and the situation.

[phoenix]

It's even worse when the split is over, for a while. I walked into a situation in West Virginia a few years ago that was like that -- the church had just split, the former pastor had left and a lot of people left angry about the whole thing. When I started there, the first thing the deacons did was visit some of the former members to "introduce" me to them. Figured out later that the split was an "old folks" vs. "young folks" thing, where the young people were mad that everyone who did anything was over 60, and the old folks saying "If you want to do it, step up." They decided to trot out their "new, young pastor" to the people who left. None of them bit, because things got so nasty before the split. Put me in a VERY awkward situation as the new preacher, and really left a nasty taste in my mouth.