Pastor Rick Warren, the founder of Saddleback Church, gave his final sermon this weekend. He served his church for 25 years, and led them through more of world’s major events than those of us who are still in our twenties have witnessed. I can only imagine the emotions he faced in giving his last sermon to his church which has helped him through both the joyous and painful times in life. There’s no amount of notice a pastor should give in order to feel right about a church. That said, there are some points about it that are unarguable. All that to say, here are some common thoughts on the topic.
How much notice should a pastor give if he is leaving his church? This is a question that we hear often from pastors. We wanted to do the research and bring you what we found! Discussed; How to resign from a church volunteer position, Pastor Resignation Letter.
How Much Notice Should A Pastor Give
Ideally, the resignation of a pastor from his pastoral duties should be performed by a written letter. The letter does not need to explain why he resigned. It should be brief and to the point. The letter should be given to the designated leader of the leadership team. If the church is small, the resignation could be given verbally. The letter should state when his duties will end. The entire letter does not need to be more than several sentences. The pastor should, if possible, give at least a two week notice. There are no biblical guidelines as to how a pastor resigns. This is purely a courtesy to the leadership team and congregation.
In return, the leadership team should be appreciative and give the pastor at least three months of salary. It is customary to give a severance package. If the pastor is not leaving for another position, the three months of salary should be increased by one additional month for each year of ministry beyond five years since it takes most pastors about one year to find another church. He is a minister of God and each church should treat its pastor better than the world treats its own. If he is leaving for another church or position, then the three months could be reduced.
Pastor Resignation Letter
Dear Pastor,
It is with a heavy heart that I submit my resignation from the position of Youth Minister at Northside Baptist Church. I have enjoyed my time here and have learned a great deal about myself and what it means to be a part of a larger family. But as you know, I had only agreed to stay on for one year and now that time has passed. My contract expires in two weeks, so I am giving you this letter on the 15th day of June.
I would like to thank you for your support during my time here and for giving me the opportunity to lead this ministry at such an important time in our church’s history. We have seen many changes in recent months which will change our lives forever and I am proud to say that I was able to be part of it all. While we may not agree on everything, you have always been open-minded enough to hear me out when I had something important to say or wanted to try something new with the youth group – even if it didn’t always work out exactly as planned! You also gave me plenty of freedom regarding how we ran things on a weekly basis, so thank you again for that trust!
I wish you all the best in your future endeavors
So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Gal 6:10 (NAS95S)
How to resign from a church volunteer position
Dear Pastor/Chaplain,
I am writing to inform you that I will be resigning from my position as secretary of the women’s group.
Since joining the group, I have enjoyed working with all of you. I have learned a lot about how ministries are run and how important it is to focus on helping others.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve our church in this capacity and I wish you all well in your future endeavors.
Sincerely,
(YOUR NAME HERE)
Dear Pastor,
It is with great regret that I am writing to announce my resignation from the church. I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of this community, and I hope that our paths will cross again in the future. I feel that it is time for me to move on.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Dear Pastor,
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter to inform you that I must resign from my position as a volunteer in your church. I have enjoyed my time here and working with you, but I must make the decision to move on.
I am certain that this change will not affect our relationship in any way. You have been a great mentor to me and I know that you will continue to be so in the future.
I hope that you will accept this resignation with grace and allow me to remain a member of your congregation. I look forward to seeing you at future events and meetings of our youth group as well as at church services on Sunday mornings at 10:00am sharp!
Yours truly,
(your name)
Churches at times treat their pastors worse than the world treats its own. In the professional world, employees are given severance packages and employers refrain from making negative comments about their employees. Many employers give their employees a farewell party and recognize their years of service. The church should at least do the same. God has directed us to make sure that our words are seasoned with grace (Col. 4:6). So let’s be kind and gracious to our pastors – even those resigning. We need to do better than those outside the church – let’s go overboard.