Is Switching Pastorates Unbiblical?

Jim Elliff of Christian Communicators Worldwide has written a very stimulating article in which he advocates pastors staying in place and mentoring others in their congregations to succeed them, rather than continual pastor-hopping by moving to other churches. Here is a short excerpt:

"Be faithful where God has put you. That is of first importance. Also, think deeply about how you might be used to turn things around. It will take patience, but more can be done than you might have otherwise thought. Your determination to stay put and faithfully minister where God has placed you will play a small but necessary role in reforming a broken system.

"Then, develop leaders in your church who can become fellow pastors with you, capable of sharing the load. Implant this philosophy in them, and try hard not to leave (if you must leave) until they are capable shepherds.

"There are many men called to preach who have learned how to work and prosper within the present system of progressive advancement and periodic movement. But the welfare of the churches must be the highest priority. In the present system it is the churches, not the pastors who leave them, that suffer the most."

To read the entire article, click here.