Thanks for the article. Agree with much of it, including that many pastors need to ditch the judgmental rhetoric and dismissive attitude. I also agree that churches need to ask more questions rather than make assumptions.

It IS worth noting that, while many people do leave a church because that church has issues that it (the church) won't honestly confront... the reverse is also sometimes true.

The saddest thing, though, is that (quite often) people leave a church without giving the pastor or any of the leaders an opportunity to ask those questions.

I guess what I'm saying is that both the church (organizationally) and church members and attendees (individually) carry responsibility in this. And more humility and communication on all sides would help immensely.