Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

A good friend of mine is Sectional Presbyter in a particular AG district.

He has been pastoring the same church for 23 years and has served as SP for nearly 10.

He and his wife are both in their early to mid 50's and have no kids.

Sensing that it is time for a change, they have been applying for open pastoral spots in another district. In spite of maturity, relative youth, life experience, pastoral and executive experience, no family distractions, and incredible endorsements from their district and national headquarters, they keep getting tuned down in church after church. The reason? The reason has been the same in every church. The churches prefer a couple between 35-40 years of age with kids, "in order to attract young married couples."

What hogwash. But I do not find this surprising in the least with so much emphasis being placed on "church growth". In my friend they would have wisdom, incredible knowledge of the word, and more time to devote to ministry due to his want for children. But the yuppy millennials know better.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Church leadership should arise from within the local assembly whenever possible. Outside leaders should be temporary, to get the local assembly to a point of maturity where God can raise leadership up from among the members.

The hogwash is the unbiblical ecclesiastical system your friend is married to. That hogwash begins with a failure to recognize what regeneration consists in, Biblically, and culminates in denominationalism. He ought to be born again and placed into the local church of Jesus Christ.

Or, he can stay in a denomination and complain about the system he chooses to be part of.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

I don't disagree with you. But the same disrespect for elders could also arise within the house church movement.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Oh, I certainly don't deny that. But the issue isn't even "house church vs XYZ". The term house church is becoming institutionalized in its own way. The issue, as always, is "What does the BIBLE say, and are we gonna do the Word, or do our own thing?"

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

If I guy is looking to represent Jesus Christ to a lost world, he won't have any trouble finding opportunities even though it may mean some personal sacrifice. If a guy is looking for a cushy, comfortable position as a career minister, that's a different ball game altogether.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

That's sad.

Maybe he should pray and present his vision for reaching the 35-40 crowd.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

As both someone who grew up as a Pastor's kid and someone who has been in ministry as an associate Pastor, being a Pastor is anything but "cushy" and "comfortable." At least for most ministers. There is a great deal of personal sacrifice for the majority of Pastors.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

That is hogwash. This isn't the first I've heard of age discrimination in the church. I've had worship leader friends who are in their late 30s and 40s who have been told by the church they were attending that they were being replaced by someone younger, more relatable to the youth and young adult crowd they were aiming for.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

How do you make room for the younger generation?

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Good question. I don't believe the answer is kicking out those above a certain age.

It's good that Apo/Pen churches have started addressing multiculturalism. Next subject is multi-generational. How do we, as you asked, make room for the younger generation -- but not do so at the expense of casting aside or forgetting the middle-aged or elders?

Shoot, I'm 41. I feel I'm finally beginning to hit my peak, not going downhill!

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Didn't those "yuppy millennials" overwhelmingly prefer an older Jewish guy named Bernie Sanders over all other candidates in the 2016 election? When it comes to leadership, millennials don't want someone who they consider an equal telling them what to believe or what to do. They don't want some Johnny Come Lately who is no older than they are presenting some prepackaged "program". They want authenticity (big buzz word among millennials). They'd rather sit at the feet of a tender hearted and kind spirited grandfather with a tried and true record and a lifetime of experience so that they might glean from his decades of wisdom.

This pastor is exactly who the millennials need. I think these churches might be misunderstanding the millennials.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

First, stop using hate speech. (For reference and a laugh, Link for Change.org petition to make the term "millennials" hate speech in Canada)

Second, Bernie is a fraud. A fake. A phony. Also, his wife is in trouble for some shady dealings and under an FBI investigation.

BUT -- I do agree and believe that people (of any age) prefer wisdom and experience over the hype of youth and relevance.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

:thumbsup

That's my primary point. I'd prefer an older seasoned man of God over someone between 35 and 40 any day.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Most of the churches I have been a part of did not have up and coming ministers who could be the next pastor.

Our ministers always came from outside the local congregation.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

At his age he will have just as hard a time finding a secular job as is finding a transfer in the church. He has stuck with the same church through much adversity for 23 years. He is not looking for a cushy job,but if anyone deserves one he does.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Hey OG! Your friend might try a district church that needs a pastor, or might try a plant. Is this in Florida?

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Maybe the age discrimination is what is causing the celebrated boom in numerical growth among young people? There were 35,000 young people at Youth Congress, after all. Something that typically only used to draw between 15,000 -18,000, if memory serves.

And it used to be that General Conference was the one drawing dozens of thousands, but is now only drawing single digit thousands.

Of course, this only speaks to the UPCI, not the AoG or other Pentecostal orgs and denominations.

If not, what else might account for the role reversal?

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Perhaps they should spend their golden years abroad, in the mission field. Where US church members can become hardened and indifferent to the presbytery of the ministry, other parts of the world are most happy and gracious for anyone that would consider shepherding them and helping them grow. Rising up before the hoary head has long been an important part of many non-US, non-Western, cultures.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

I don't know the situation but sometimes it's easier to blame not wanting someone on some exterior factor like age or lack of kids than it is to tell them the real reason they don't want them.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

True at times. But I do not think that is the case in this particular situation.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

amen! :highfive:yourock

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

That's a really good idea, actually. With no kids/grandkids to be a distraction and cause homesickness, they could do a lot of good.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

It is hard for a man of that age to start over again, no matter what they say. Mid life crisis setting in, standard of living to uphold, the insecurity of losing a position...

Then to go to the mission field? You really are asking a lot.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

We're sending you onto the mission field when you turn 60. You need to groom your SIL to take over when we drop you off in the middle of some jungle in South America. :thumbsup

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!!!

I hate mosquitos!

My sil would probably like it though!

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Like what, that he took over... of that you're far away!!! :happydance

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Maybe he needs to shake it up a bit :D

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Well, in the interest of bumping up my post count, I have to say the guy might try to hook up with brother Reckhart, prolly find a church in a sunny clime that isn't all millennialized.

Re: Sectional Presbyter can't get a transfer
 

Why would you wish that upon anyone?