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Our pastor retired last summer. The new pastor is not nearly as popular. Recently, an assistant pastor resigned. A month later he called many of us, informing us he'd taken a senior pastor position at another church in town, then invited us to check him out. Several have now left to attend that church. Is it ethical for the pastor to invite people to his church? Should we consider going?
By asking the question, you have already answered it in your own mind. ... What you are really asking is, is it now ethical for you to simply leave on this basis. The answer to that is more about you, than him ... although one might more closely examine the character and ethics of this assistant pastor - in other areas.
Most pastors who move to another church in an area will go out of their way to avoid "sheep-stealing or proselytizing" in the prior congregation. But, it takes money to run a church and what easier place to get it than from known givers?
I believe that if Jesus Spirit would be leading the Pastor to ask people to go to His church that then, the Pastor should then ask the people who do go to be praying for a lead in the Spirit of Christ which church should the people and their families be going , and best not to play God in People lives and the calling of Christ in these people .... As Jesus will build His church and anoint it with His callings and Jesus Holy Angels will be attendants from Jesus
Our pastor retired last summer. The new pastor is not nearly as popular. Recently, an assistant pastor resigned. A month later he called many of us, informing us he'd taken a senior pastor position at another church in town, then invited us to check him out. Several have now left to attend that church. Is it ethical for the pastor to invite people to his church? Should we consider going?
Is there a reason the assistant resigned? Is there a problem with the church? Did he leave just because he was overlooked to be the Senior?
I realize I did open the door for more questions, but I don't want to be a gossip, etc..
I would tend to not think very highly of such a pastor. As a pastor, I usually try to avoid looking like I'm trying to "steal sheep". I don't believe most of them in the area preach the Gospel...but I'm not going to overtly bad-mouth the church and talk them into coming to mine. I don't think that accomplishes much.
About 30 years ago a church in my area had the pastor leave over an issue of speaking in tongues. The agreement he had with the elder board was that he would not start a new church. What happened was that another church was planted...and a year later he went to pastor it. Technically, he did not start a new church...but he was looked down upon regardless.
He is trying to undermine the new pastor he left, and his church. I would not think too highly of that.
People knew him, and if God led them to follow they would without being solicitied.
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Should we consider going?
