WHEN A PASTOR RESIGNS (CHAPTER 2)

 

    We established in chapter one that a calling is God's conviction upon a soul to take up a particular responsibility and that this calling can be personal. In this chapter, we'll explore how a calling can come to an end. The end of God's call upon a person can be necessitated by various events, and we'll examine why a pastoral call can come to an end.

Reasons for the end of a pastoral call:

1. Death

    One way God makes it clear that someone's calling has ended is when He calls them to glory. We see this in the examples of Stephen, Moses, the apostle James, and John the Baptist. In my lifetime, I've seen churches lose their pastors due to death. For instance, Pastor Michael Bwembya's passing in 2021 was a significant loss to the Reformed Baptist elders in Southern Province. Similarly, Pastor Kennedy Sunkutu's death in 2018 was a sorrowful situation. Time fails me to talk about Pastor Percy Chisenga and a Kenyan brother, John Akeyo. Death is a reality we cannot escape, and some pastoral callings will come to an end because of it. While the impact of a pastor's work can live on, there comes a time when he must breathe his last. The sooner believers accept this reality the better it will be.

2. Sickness

Kwenda attempting sign language with Mary

    Just like death, sickness can also bring an end to a pastoral call. Pastors are not immune to illnesses, and some may be forced to resign due to health issues. For example, vocal cord paralysis can make it difficult for pastors to preach and teach, which is their main task. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, this condition can be caused by various factors and may be permanent in some cases. Additionally, strokes, dementia, old age, and other illnesses can also impact a pastor's ability to continue serving. As believers, we must realize that our pastors can fall ill and may need to resign due to health reasons.

3.  Macedonian Call

    It's also important to note that a pastor's resignation could be God's call to serve in another location. In Acts 16:6, Paul had a vision of a person from Macedonia calling for him to come and rescue them. God spoke to Paul, calling him to leave Derbe and Lystra for Macedonia. Similarly, Philip the evangelist was moved by God from place to place, eventually settling in Caesarea (Acts 8:26-40). We see examples of this in modern times too. Pastor Ronald Kalifungwa relocated from Mufulira to Cape Town, South Africa, and later to Lusaka Baptist Church. Pastor Kapambwe Nsenduluka served in Botswana and then moved to Namibia before returning to Zambia. Pastor Brian Njovu relocated from Choma to serve in another town.

    These examples illustrate that God's call has an ending, and it's essential to accept this reality for the well-being of our churches and ministries. We may view every resignation as disobedience if we believe that a calling is a lifelong conviction to serve in one location. However, this perspective doesn't account for the various ways God calls and relocates His servants.

    In this chapter, we explored the concept of the end of a pastoral call. In the next chapter, we will delve deeper into the topic of pastoral resignation, examining the various reasons why pastors choose to resign. Join me on September 27, 2024, as we continue this important discussion.