The challenge of change
Dr Bruce Manners
Senior minister
Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church
The decision to leave Avondale College Seventh-day Adventist Church has been a difficult one. I began to wonder about my future four months ago when I sensed administering the church was becoming a greater role than pastoring the church. That bothered me.
This is one of the dangers of a large church. Travis, my wife, Margaret, and I’s son—also the minister of a large church—calls it feeding the beast. It’s about working hard to simply keep the wheels turning. That can be frustrating.
Having asked about our future, Margaret and I have spent much time thinking, talking and praying. I’ve spent time talking to a few people (particularly our head elders), including administrators of Avondale College of Higher Education and of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in northern New South Wales.
The most difficult thing about making this decision: I know I have the support (and the desire) for me to continue from most of the church. I don’t leave feeling unloved—the opposite, in fact.
In the end, I made my decision to leave for several reasons, but they can be summed up as my belief that it is best for us and for the church. As you can guess, this church is not an easy one to pastor and it can be all-consuming.
The church is in the midst of significant change. The average age of our year-round congregation has dropped dramatically with an increase in the number of families with children. We’re also gearing up to tackle some core issues I expect will take more years than I have left in ministry. Now is probably the best time to bring in pastoral change.
I leave with warm memories. I leave with few regrets (I didn’t always get it right). And I leave sensing God has used my ministry in significant ways.
As I close the door on this time of ministry, I know what I’m going to miss most. You.
This is Bruce’s last column for Connections. Post your farewells below or on Avondale’s Facebook.
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