Explaining Why Staff Leave

I recently read an article in Rev! Magazine which gave some practical insight on explaining why staff leave. I've had more than my share of staff transitions in the past 6 years and while each change was unique, there are some similarities I've discovered over the years. Here are some of my notes from the article which best summarizes what I've discovered:

There are all sorts of reasons why staff leave, but here are some positive ones:

A Stage in Life

Sometimes staff leave because they have to take care of an aging parent, the desire to go back to school, marriage or even retirement.

A Stirring of God

Sometimes staff change ministry venues because God simply calls them to another mission field. 20 percent of Americans move every year. It's no wonder that pastors will often make transitions too.

A Season of Healing

Sometimes staff have to take a break from ministry in order to focus on their family, a marriage or even a wayward child. That's biblical. Ministry can be grueling. It can overtake a persons life and leave them drained. Some times staff need to take a break because of physical or emotional issues.

A Situation of Privacy

On rare occasions, some staff leave ministry due to private matters. In those cases, I've tried to protect their privacy and not publicize why someone is leaving.