How to Change a Minister

[cvs2kids]

Hi gang,

This is a pseudo prayer request and a request for advice.

We have a pastor who's been with our Church for over a decade. He's Godly, but has a poor characteristics to be a pastor.
He's offended many people, and even the local ministerial association wants little to do with him. Our attendance is declining to the point where we can't sustain ourselves financially.

As a deacon's board, we feel the Lord is calling us to dismiss him. He wants to work with us to increase attendance through reviving our congregation by reaching the community. Unfortunately, that will not work as several ministries in the past have fallen aside because as people worked with him, they came to hate to be around him.

It's a church family I love and have been together with for 30+ years. It will be the end of our congregation if we don't reconcile the situation.

Any thoughts/opinions/experiences would be appreciated.

[Jan]

"As a deacon's board, we feel the Lord is calling us to dismiss him."

Well, there you go. You have to do what the Lord is leading you to do. None of us are there, so we can't really say what you should do. It is unfortunate, I'm sorry your church is going through this and I will pray for wisdom and discernment for all of you. I'm going to a church that had a split 10 yrs. ago. It is a large church, but so many of the staff and elders were resigning that it seemed like the church might fall apart. But now, 10 years later, even though the church is a little smaller than it used to be, it is still going strong, being Spirit-led, and some things are changing for the better.

[Shell]

You do have to do what you feel the Lord is leading you to do. There are all sorts of personalities out there, and not everyone is cut out to be a minister. A minister has to have a high tolerance level and has to be very patient. You can't be a minister of a church and constantly offend people. It is hard to find the balancing point where you're making your feelings or position clear while at the same time trying to understand where someone else is coming from. If people aren't wanting to have anything to do with him, that does say something. It's not an easy situation.

[separateunion]

What are these "poor characteristics"? Why does he offend people? Has anyone discussed these issues with him? Have you given him an opportunity to try to improve his weak areas?

[Dan]

It doesn't surprise me that he has not stepped down already, I know a Pastor where the exact same thing has happened.. and it will be the death of the establishment because he refuses to see himself a the problem as the leader. God calls people to lead, and follow him; not cut the congregation into taters.

[cvs2kids]

What are these "poor characteristics"? Why does he offend people? Has anyone discussed these issues with him? Have you given him an opportunity to try to improve his weak areas?

He's approachable, but sees himself different than other perceive him. His has an ego and likes to tell you how smart her is and what an amazing talent he is in everything. After meeting his familiy, it appears to be genetic.

For instance, he can't delegate very well. He tries, bit then either goes around the other person or jumps in and takes over. He invited a family to perform P&W music in a more modern style on SUnday mornings. The family is musical and talented. He then takes over and basically wants them to be his back-up band and he can't carry a note in a beadbasket. That ministry ended after 3-4 weeks and within a year the family was gone.

For a good reason, the congregation, including the DB, are afraid to approach him. "Firing" a pastor can be the death of the church. However, with the Lord's direction, I hope it can be reconciled in a matter that is pleasing to the Father.

[St_Augustines_Pears]

"As a deacon's board, we feel the Lord is calling us to dismiss him."

Well, there you go. You have to do what the Lord is leading you to do.

Just don't act like Donald Trump and say "You're Fired!" while doing that little hand thing he does.

[brent]

In this case, Spock was right. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."

What does the bible say? Let first the offended go to him to resolve it. Then two or more go together to resolve it. If that does not work, then it goes before the elders of the church. Just because someone knows their stuff does not mean they are "called" and "ordained" by God forever to do a task. If the guy has a personality flaw, in this case he is an a hole, then you have to do something. The bible says that the pastor must have a good testimony with the world. IKf the world wants nothing to do with him, how does that further the cause of the church?

Good luck.

[cvs2kids]

In this case, Spock was right. "The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."

What does the bible say? Let first the offended go to him to resolve it. Then two or more go together to resolve it. If that does not work, then it goes before the elders of the church. Just because someone knows their stuff does not mean they are "called" and "ordained" by God forever to do a task. If the guy has a personality flaw, in this case he is an a hole, then you have to do something. The bible says that the pastor must have a good testimony with the world. IKf the world wants nothing to do with him, how does that further the cause of the church?

Good luck.

Thanks and my thoughts too.

Looked at on-line resources, but articles writen on "How to Fire a Pastor" generally wtitten by Pastors tend to be biased towards.........

Pastors (who woulda thunk it?)

[cvs2kids]

What system of church govt are you under? Is the church part of a denomination or their own authority?

In the church where I serve, I have a job description. My review is conducted by board members and lay people to represent a cross section of the congregation. If my review based on the job description is scored low, head office is notified and I could be removed from my ministry position. I'm not crazy about this system, but it's better than what we used to have: a congregational vote Y or N.

In extreme cases, we have a Bishop and a rep from head office could come in to a struggling church, and a pastor could be removed after other attempts at reconciliation have failed.

Is it really, once a pastor is in (s)he's in? Are there no reviews at all?

It's a denomination. It's a small country church, so things are very informal and personal. Their are various avenues, including having someone from the larger organization come in. But we're autonomous, with the larger organization bieng democratic with no "leader". Kind of in the vain of a professional association (lawwyers, accountants, engineers, etc..).