There is a theory that says “Good is the Enemy of Great”. I have found that to be true in my ministry.  I've served in churches that are “Content” because everything is “Good”.  When people are content with what is, they tend not to reach for what can be. I have also found that I can become content, and it's hard to rock the boat when I am. I can tell you that a ship that does not rock is not moving.  It would have been easy for me to stay at Christ Church in many ways. I love you all, and you have tolerated me, and even loved my family, and you have expressed that in so many ways.  But this last year, the Holy Spirit made me discontent not with you or with Christ Church or with any of you, but with the fact that I was too contented.  I felt myself slipping into an easy pattern.  And I knew I had accomplished what God sent me here to do: walk with you and shepherd you as we made difficult decisions about the future, leaving the United Methodist Church and joining the Global Methodist Church to help get the church get over the bad appointments that had been made while in the UMC and to bring hope of a better future.  We have done those things together, and I tried to lead growth here, which I have done in the past, but that was not God’s plan for me and Christ Church.  So I quietly let some friends in leadership know that I was open to a move that would challenge me and stretch me and make put a burr under my saddle, and mainly to help me discern where God wants me next to employ the Gifts and Skills he has given me and they did.  Still, I was in no hurry to move, because there is so much good and right about Christ Church, and it was easy.  Good was becoming the enemy of great for me and you at Christ.

I am blessed to have been your pastor for 3 years.  God has done great things among you and will bring about even more if you allow him to.  I have spoken to the next pastor of Christ Church on the phone, and today, I got to meet him face to face. I am overjoyed by what God is doing.  I can not give you the name, but I know God is doing and will do amongst you.  I can not wait to see what God has in store for Christ Church and what He has in store for you.  There will be about a month between my farewell this Sunday and the new pastor arriving and filling the pulpit. There is a plan for substitutes in the pulpit over that time.  I ask that you wait and pray, and give this new preacher a chance for at least 3 months of your steady attendance and participation.  I believe he is a man of God and, more importantly, the man of God that God will use to shepherd you in ways I can not, to grow the kingdom of God among you in ways that I can not, and to lead you to new pastures where you will grow. 

Do not allow fear of the unknown or change to scatter you, but allow God to bind you closer together and increase your tribe.  That is my greatest wish and the greatest blessing you can give me.

Remember God Loves You, and I do too.  I love you enough to leave so the “Great” can overcome the “Good” in all our lives. 

Pray for your new pastor and your old one, and I will pray for you and _____!  Be at church Sunday to celebrate a close to one chapter, the beginning of a new one, and an announcement about that blank.

Peace,

Pastor Burt