{"id":1753,"date":"2025-08-01T20:10:56","date_gmt":"2025-08-01T20:10:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/2025\/08\/01\/pastor-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-to-another-denomination\/"},"modified":"2025-08-01T20:10:56","modified_gmt":"2025-08-01T20:10:56","slug":"pastor-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-to-another-denomination","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christianitytoday.com\/pastors\/content\/pastor-should-i-stay-or-should-i-go-to-another-denomination\/","title":{"rendered":"Pastor, Should I Stay or Should I Go (to Another Denomination)?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anthony Chute begins his introductory essay in Why We Belong<\/em>\u2014a book exploring evangelical unity and denominational diversity\u2014by recounting a scene from Charles Schulz\u2019s 1966 classic, It\u2019s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown<\/em>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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 \u2026 an interesting exchange takes place as Linus pens his annual letter to the Great Pumpkin. \u2018When are you going to stop believing in something that isn\u2019t true?\u2019 inquires Charlie, to which Linus shoots back, \u201cWhen you stop believing in that fellow with a red suit and white beard who goes \u2018Ho, Ho, Ho\u2019!\u201d Charlie Brown looks at the camera and says dryly, \u201cWe are obviously separated by denominational differences.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Linus\u2019s line is whimsical, but it names something substantial. Denominational differences can feel stark. It\u2019s also an intriguing window into Schulz himself, who grew up nominally Lutheran, then joined a Church of God congregation in Minnesota, later attended a United Methodist Church when he moved to California, and eventually distanced himself from the church altogether. In his later years, Schulz quipped, \u201cI guess you might say I’ve come around to secular humanism\u201d (Good Grief: The Story of Charles M. Schulz<\/em>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reading his story, I can’t help but wonder what prompted those shifts. Were they theological? Personal? How did the pastors of these churches counsel him in these moments? Was he pushed away? There could have been many factors. The relationship between personal convictions, the local church, and denominational affiliation is rarely simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I write as a convictional Southern Baptist. I hold a master\u2019s degree from one of our denominational seminaries. I also have a professional doctorate from a seminary that champions its evangelical ecumenism and am now pursuing a PhD at a seminary affiliated with the Anglican Church of Australia (Yes, I am still a Baptist). On Sundays, I happily pastor a Baptist church in North Carolina, where some members come from a range of Protestant evangelical traditions.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some made the transition because their doctrinal convictions changed. Others made the change because they moved to the area and are drawn by shared convictions or relational connections. And occasionally, someone leaves for the same kinds of reasons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But then there are those who leave\u2014or contemplate leaving\u2014not because of our preaching or our polity but because they are unsettled by our denominational ties. For some, the concerns are tied to deep wounds or painful past experiences because of how our denomination handled specific issues. Then there are those who consider leaving not because of heresy or scandal but because of disillusionment. They\u2019re weary, ired, or simply drawn to another tradition over secondary issues like the meaning and mode of baptism, or tertiary matters like eschatology. These moments call for more than explanations. They call for pastoral presence, clarity, and patience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of one\u2019s tradition, it\u2019s not uncommon for church members to raise concerns about denominational affiliation. Maybe they read something on social media. Maybe they saw a headline from a reputable media outlet. Sometimes the reporting is correct, but the concern is shaped by confusion about how denominations actually function. Sometimes the reporting is flawed\u2014driven by misinterpretation or personal grievance. And sometimes, the concern is both well-informed and warranted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part of pastoral leadership involves clarifying the identity and purpose of our denominational structures. The word denomination <\/em>is derived from the Latin denominare<\/em>, which means \u201cto name.\u201d In other words, denominations name their distinctives. Doing so is good because it clarifies important convictions and provides shape to missional partnerships. Broadly speaking, evangelical denominations have always emerged at the intersection of conviction and cooperation. They help churches locate themselves within a confessional tradition, providing both theological boundaries and practical alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Denominational structures provide systems for accountability and organization. They create space for shared purpose\u2014 missions, benevolence, education. In many ways, they formalize the guidelines for the types of collaborative ministry we see in the New Testament (see Acts 15:1\u201335; 1 Corinthians 16:1; 2 Corinthians 8:1\u20137, 19). Today\u2019s structures may vary, but their purpose isn\u2019t new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So when a member is considering leaving because of denominational affiliation, it may be helpful to outline how that affiliation actually works. How does the broader denominational body relate to the local church body? What kind of authority does the denomination exercise? Does the issue at hand even reach the local level? Sometimes, the issue prompting concern has little bearing on the local body. Other times, it does. In either case, the member may need help seeing the connection clearly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When possible, the disillusioned could be encouraged to stay and serve as agents of change. Like many other associative bodies, denominations often reflect the old adage \u201cYou get out what you put in.\u201d Of course, this varies across Protestant denominations. But in general, I\u2019ve found that many people bring faulty expectations to their understanding of denominations. While there is no perfect church or denomination, I still believe denominations serve a good net purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond clarifying how a denomination functions, it\u2019s vital to understand what\u2019s really behind the concern. Before you meet with a church member on such matters, pray for biblical wisdom and the guidance of the Spirit\u2014it\u2019s essential. James reminds us that if we lack wisdom, we should ask God, \u201cwho gives generously\u201d (James 1:5). Wisdom is often what\u2019s needed because the relationship between personal convictions, the local church, and denominational affiliation can be a complicated one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It also takes patient listening and intentional questions. Proverbs 20:5 says, \u201cThe purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.\u201d That\u2019s our aim. Behind every concern is something deeper\u2014maybe fear, maybe frustration, maybe a desire for justice, maybe a genuine theological shift. But we won\u2019t know unless we ask pointed questions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve found it helpful to put the following questions on the table:<\/p>\n\n\n\n