[Stratopastor]

First off, Sorry for the "Stratopastor" name. I know this is a Tele site but I could not think of another name quick enough because once I read this thread I felt lead to reply.
I don't feel it's right for me to bad mouth a Pastor or anyone for that matter but I can give you all a small perspective on why I left.
Now at 49 I've only attended (2 Churches) in my life. From age 14 till I was 35 I attended a Presbyterial Church. I started leading worship at 16 for a youth group there and eventually became the Youth Pastor for 11 years. Then The Lord moved my family and I to the Church I just left. I was there for almost 14 years.
11 Years as the Worship Leader eventually becoming a Worship Pastor for over 8 years.
Why am I telling you this? Because I'm not a Church hopper. This decision was a heartwrenching difficult one and I'm very saddened but excited at the same time. I've left some good friends there. It has been difficult!
The Sr. Pastor and I had a very close friendship for years but when he made me a Pastor thats when it all changed. I won't get into details but a lot of strange things happened through the years. I wrote a letter to him and the leaders of the church of stepping down and I gave 2 reasons for it.
Of course there were numerous other reasons but I did not want to seem against the Pastor and mess anyone else up. Here were the 2 reasons.

1. I could not perform all the responsibilities that he wanted all Pastors to do. He said it was mandatory for leaders to attend all services, picnics, events etc. I basically did it for years but I began to see the effects is was having on my family and myself. So I did not attend everything. Only Sundays 2 services and Wed night service leading worship for both. I prayed for months about it and felt I was doing what God wanted me to do and I was fine with it. He was not.
2. For years our relationship/friendship was strange, strained and phony. I said in the letter that I believed that since he and I were the most seen through worship and teaching we should have a good communicative relationship. He told me "The Pastor needs to be with the flock". (Strange answer) He believes that once you are a pastor you are not considered part of his flock. He had no desire to work on our relationship.

I'm just giving you a small part of the reasons that lead up to my departure.
Through the years I set up and had LONG conversations with him about the issues (3 in particular) for a minimum of 3 hours each time. The latest was 3 hours. One time I met with him and two other brothers highly respected in the church to try and work out the issues. It never could be worked out. We seemed to always be on different plains. We had totally different perspectives on the issues and it could not be resolved. Honestly in my opinion his perspectives always seemed strange to me. My wife and I prayed about this for almost 2 years. What was Gods will? We received council from 2brothers outside the Church. We started to receive confirmation and God spoke clearly that He was calling us out of the Church. I'm looking forward to what God will do! I've never been in a situation that I was not leading Worship since I was 16 years old. My wife and I RARELY ever drove to Church together in 24 years. We did and sat together the entire service on Easter Sunday at an interum church. It was great but I felt an emptiness and sadness. God will help me with that.

Here is just a taste of the heart the Pastor of the Church I left.

I had been heavily involved in ministry for 14 years serving Mens Ministry, over Married Couples Fellowship, Worship for 12 years, Mentoring men, Coulciling married couples in trouble. I'm not boasting here. Just setting up for what I'm about to say.

On April 5th our last day at the church. The Pastor announced at the very end of the service: "" Well you see John Smith up here leading wirship. Chris and his wife are in the back. This is their last day here at Church. They are leaving. You can say goodbye to them as you leave today".

That was it! My heart dropped. I was hurt very deeply. But God comforted me and reminded me that He is the one I need to keep my eyes on. That send off/Farewell confirmed to me that I had made the right decision.
Men are flawed including myself. I'm trusting that He will guide me to where He wants me and my family.

I'm sure that there could be some replies that ar positive and negative. That's fine. But you need to know that I've only told a small piece of the story.

Peace

Stratopastor