This blog and our podcasts have been a blessing to me, thanks to the insights and engagement from our readers and listeners. I learn so much from your comments on our website, social media, and emails. For example, hundreds of you have shared the decision-making processes behind your departures from a church. While the reasons vary, one theme consistently emerges more frequently than any other:
“The church has grown as much as it will under my leadership.”
But what does that really mean? In what specific areas do pastors see these limitations? I’ve asked this question on numerous occasions, and here are the most common responses:
“The church has grown as much as it will under my leadership.”
Often, a pastor will guide a church through a period of growth—only for that growth to plateau after a season. When the reasons behind the slowdown aren’t clear, the pastor concludes that it’s a personal leadership limitation.
“I am just not a good fit for this church.”
I recently encountered a case where a pastor, who was significantly culturally different from the congregation, felt that those differences made it impossible for him to lead the church any further.
“I’m spending most of my time putting out fires.”
In these situations, ongoing conflicts consume a pastor’s time and energy, leaving little room for proactive leadership. Overwhelmed by constant crises, the pastor ultimately decides it’s time to move on.
“The church has grown too large for my leadership skills.”
Some pastors assert that their churches have outgrown them. For instance, one pastor was comfortable leading a congregation of 150 members. However, within four years, the church had grown to 375, and he felt unable to manage an organization of that scale.
“The church needs to relocate, and I’m not the right person to lead them.”
This reason is often cited when a church faces major transitions, such as building new facilities or expanding into multiple sites.
Many pastors are sincere in their belief that the church has outgrown their leadership. However, I also believe that pastors and church staff can continue to grow and learn. Not every challenge should signal the end of one’s leadership journey.
What do you think about this common rationale for pastors and church staff leaving their churches? Is it always a legitimate reason, or might there be deeper, unspoken factors at play? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Posted on April 7, 2025
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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19 Comments
When Barnabas was sent by the leaders in Jerusalem to encourage that new fledgling community of believers in Antioch, it wasn’t long before he went to find Paul. Although the text in Acts doesn’t make it explicit, I would suggest (given what we learn about Barnabas throughout the book of Acts) that he went to find Paul and bring him to Antioch because he recognized that Paul’s gifts were needed–gifts that Barnabas didn’t see in himself. I’d suggest that the idea of “spiritual gift fit” might be much more foundational to why some pastors end up leaving a church–although without some recognition of spiritual giftedness other reasons will be offered.
I “retired” from my last congregation at the age of 73. I left only because the Lord told me it was time. We had gone through considerable renewal and expansion of facilities, development of ministries and, were I to guess His reasoning, it was time for someone younger to come and build the congregation with younger families. Looking back at previous congregations, I was and am a pastor. No need or desire to lead an organization. Thus, I learned to stick with congregations where I could get to know every member by name, would be able to visit them (personal care and discipling) at least once a year, When I do a wedding or a funeral I want to know thew people, their lives, their journey. I want it to be personal, meaningful, reflective of who they are as well as honoring the Lord.
All of those I’ve heard and pondered myself. After pastoring my last church for 26 years, it seemed that the sheep were not hearing my voice or at least the heart of their undershepherd. That seemed to be the growing case not matter how open and authentic I was with them in the pulpit and in personal interaction.
After a personal tragedy in my family’s life I was spent and left 5 months later for their benefit, I said to myself. Many more dynamics were going on in the past several years there. I’m currently in a Master’s program on Ministry Leadership, and I’ve learned a lot of things that I wished I had known while pastoring; I would have handled things differently. Of course, hindsight is clearer than foresight. If I put my eyeglasses on my backside and walk backward, maybe I’d get it right the first time? Some reading this will have to think about that to get the joke.
Thanks for your ministry Thom!
Blessings
Thank you, Jeff.
It gets hard sometimes when no one ones to held when we have session Elders and having no support at all in my situation I have support from the congregation but not from the Session Elders
Could it be because they do not want to teach their people to be a true disciple because they fear loosing people? (Luke 14:26,27 & 33). . .So many Christians do not want to die to self so the LORD can be their teacher (Jer. 31:33-34; 1John 2:27) . .My first 20 years of my Christian life was working to lead lost souls to Christ but it seemed I never seemed to win anyone to Christ. . . I finally asked God to prune me and allow me to KNOW Him intimately. Immediately trials came but HE gave me an inner HOPE that knew HE was working. It seemed in every trial God would bring someone in my path that HE wanted to touch. On the job, in stores, neighbors in my apartment and everywhere I had to move to; someone was saved. But during all the pain & trials HE also revealed HIMSELF to me in so many ways that I felt like “I was drowning in HIS LOVE” and asked HIM to slow down. He would say, “I AM your Security, your Dwelling, your Insurance, your Provider, your Protection, your Fulfiller, your Lover, your Life” and much, much more! . . He cleansed me of self-pity, worry, hopelessness, and every fear. (John 4:18) Once I felt like I was in prison at my job and immediately, HE said, “Can’t I put my people in prison.” . . Being a wife & mother, I wanted to be home, but I knew at that moment I was right where GOD wanted me to be (Peace & Joy beyond understanding). My own church thought I couldn’t have such joy in the midst of trials.. . .GOD then reminded me of the Tabernacle and showed me that HIS people were wondering around in the outer court and had never come to know HIM in the Holy of Holies and that is when HE showed me I was dwelling in HIM with Christ! (Col.3:3). . . I saw myself “within the Ark” with Jesus Christ. I wrote a pamphlet that my husband read and he encouraged me to write a book about it. Right before he passed away, I finished it and called it “The Answer To The Great Commission.” I had a “calling” to go to East Asia as a missionary at 12 yrs. old, but the LORD didn’t bring it to fulfillment until I was 63yrs. old. . . .I served with the IMB for almost 7yrs.. My many testimonies of how Christ cleansed my heart, seemed to draw almost 30 to Christ there. I decided to rewrite my book with many of the testimonies in it and now call it , “Disciples of The New Covenant”.
What I am hearing from some of the responses is that we have our reasons for leaving but that we don’t tell the whole truth. I have only left one church and I did not leave well. What I mean is that I shared with my deacons that I was leaving and then it filtered through the rest of the church. It was definitely time for myself and my family to leave but I would have handled it differently. I have currently been in my second church for 16+ years and I have already decided that I will communicate more clearly when the time comes to leave.
Thanks, William.
I pastored two churches in over 40 years of ministry. Both times I left because I believed the church needed a different kind of leadership than I could provide. My last church, I knew that they needed younger, more energetic leadership (I was 65) and that I needed to “re-deploy” to some other ministry while I still had the strength and energy to do it. We brought a new younger man in, and he and I worked together for 3 months, then I stepped aside. It was a great transition, and he and the church are doing well.
That’s great news, Bill.
Interesting post, Thom. In my personal experience, I believe I usually have two reasons for leaving: the public rationale that I give, and the real reason I’m leaving.
I’m not a good example of pastoral perseverance because I’ve moved so many times. I’ve read that trend in pastoral leadership is changing. I hope so. But most of the time when I left, it was because of some internal issue that I could not navigate. As an associate pastor of worship, I twice resigned because I could not embrace the ministry philosophy of the senior pastor. I came up with another public reason to resign which contained an element of truth but not the primary reason. Of course, if I had shared the real reason, it would have cause a tremendous amount of turmoil for the church. In that case, I believe I took the high road. It was similar in the two senior pastor positions that I held. In one situation, the board refused to support me in a critical personnel issue and made life extremely toxic for my wife and me. When I submitted my resignation to the board, I told them the truth because they already knew it. But the letter that went to the congregation (written by me but approved by the board) covered up the real truth. To tell the truth to the congregation would have caused a split. After I left, the board had to later deal with their dysfunction and deceit. In my last senior pastor role, I told the congregation that I resigned to be closer to family which was at least 50% true. It was true that I had hit a wall that wasn’t going to move. But the congregation didn’t really need to know. I felt I did the right thing.
Kind of wordy. Refer to my second sentence for the quick answer.
Well said, Bob.
I personally believe that the main statement “The church has grown as much as possible under my leadership” is true. Or at least it was for me. God graciously gave us 19 years in our first church. While some of the early years were rough (mainly because of my inexperience and pride), most of our time there was a tremendous blessing. Yet the last 2 years we ministered there, I knew deep down it was time to move on. There was a comfort level leaning toward apathy which I couldn’t break. I honestly didn’t know what the next steps where for the church to take and it wasn’t for a lack of trying and researching. At the time, I lacked the administrative skills that would be necessary if the church did grow. In many ways, I believe I was holding the church back and they needed a fresh leadership style and individual to move them to the next level.
I also agree you can grow in your leadership. I am having too right now as our church grows. It is stretching, overwhelming, and wonderful all at the same time. But I must admit I keep wondering in the back of my head, can I grow enough for the good of this church? Or will there be a time to again move on for the sake of the church?
Good comments. Good question.
As I read through these reasons that pastors leave their churches, I am reminded that there is likely more at play here than what is being conveyed and it’s really difficult to give a black and white answer. In some circumstances, the pastor is seemingly being honest with himself. Such as the church addition scenario. It is my understanding that these can be a contentious issue and are not for everyone. It’s not something where one can easily learn as one goes. The risk is that the wrong person in this situation can cause damage to relationships that have taken years to build. I commend anyone who is being honest. Which brings me to the question, how does one really know when it’s a good time to leave if it’s not for some of the foregoing reasons?
I planted the church and have pastored that same church for nearly 25 years, and believe they may need a new voice. Any advice on how to step away carefully and graciously?
Sonny –
It’s a challenge to answer your question without more context. May I recommned you post your question at Church Answers Central where a community of 2,000 curch leaders will offer their input?
I took your Discipleship Podcast last week and was interested in your 1/2 price offer of $249 for Church Leadership and Ministry Leadership. with all books and certificates. I never received your reply asking if you ship to Canada?
I have been a volunteer layperson doing Nursing Home, Small Group Coordinator Pulpit Supply, etc since 1987. How would these courses help me and will you ship to Canada?
Bill –
Somenone will contact you directly today. Can you tell me who you contacted on our team?