Does anyone know why Pastor John Werhas left Yorba Linda Friends Church?

Answer 1

I don't and John was my family's pastor from 1992 until he left. We still attend that church and we still don't know why he left. The main impression we got was that no one wanted to talk about it when it was happening and most people still don't want to talk about it. I have been attending church my entire life and have never come across another pastor so genuinely loved by his congregation. His last service was very odd. In other churches, when a pastor leaves, he would preach and there would be a warm farewell. For John's last service, the choir was singing and singing and singing song after song like the band on the Titanic. Finally they brought out John. He said something like "I never thought this would ever happen" and then he was gone. We still attend this church and the staff will occasionally refer to "past struggles" but it is almost like the name and the question that you dare not speak. 2nd answer - I was at the seems-like-it-will-never-end business meeting where his departure was decided. In my opinion, the problem was a disagreement over authority. I, a lifelong Baptist, think John agrees with Baptist teachings on authority and may not realize it. He believes that the pastor should be the highest authority in a church (I agree). But, the Friends church has authorities above the local church and those authorities wanted the church run their way, which was in conflict with John's. Therefore, John had to go. Added 8/24/08 - My understanding is that the main concern was that the Friends Church wanted John to reduce his teaching time so they could increase the singing/music worship. John felt that the amount of time to teach was already limited and that hearing the Word was the most important reason to come to church and therefore should not be reduced any further.