At the close of my long city ministry, a committee told me that they needed me to go so that they could win back people whom I had alienated. There weren't many, though, whom I had alienated, and none who resigned for that reason. Yet the big picture is that, after I did step aside, people were alienated in masses. The Church as a Body virtually collapsed. OBSERVATION: "Church leaders should step aside if they alienate people." In my Master's researches on this subject, I found that about 10% of congregants are alienated, regardless of what the minister does. However, if that turns into 10% resignations, that is big. In my experience, the gospel itself alienates people. I do not mean its moral precepts.
POSTSCRIPT: In the above situation, resignation letters became important. They state the reasons why people left. As a minister, ask people to write one. It generally protects the minister, the Church, and not least, the person who resigned, because somebody will use their name.
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