Oh, and remember that I didn’t understand the way your church operates organizationally til you told me as our denomination is a democracy based on deacon-body recommendations. BUT, our denomination has historically had more than our share of conflicts because of that very democracy.

Where 2 or more are gathered together….there will be conflict! Even Paul had to deal with church conflict, so there is truly “nothing new under the sun”. But being IN church, regardless of human failings is WAY better than out of church (take it from one who has done both)!

I love you….will continue praying for you and yours.

We are a family, and sometimes families disagree. Comparing it to a marriage is appropriate. You don’t just walk away when you disagree and you don’t always get your way. But, the commitment to each other and the overall benefits of the union remain.

I don’t have a solution, only that none of these changes, or feelings, keep us from gathering for corporate worship of God with the community of faith to which we have committed our prayers, tithes, service, and presence. My prayer is that not a single member is lost over the change in procedure. Also, that we can lay aside our personal feelings of these physical changes and work together to glorify the name of God and take his message to a hungry world. And, last, that not a single person reads this and decides that committing their life to God and a church community is not for them.

Also, I think hurt feelings are one thing (and a big thing) that are fixable, so my advice would be to stay the course if that’s the only issue. I think, however, that not being able to feel at home in your own church is completely different, and trying out new waters would be excusable. That’s just my opinion, you can take it for what it’s worth.