Am I the Grinch trying to steal Christmas?
No way. Bah. Humbug.
I simply want to uncover a dark reality of which many church members have little knowledge: many pastors are being fired this Christmas season.
I know. I see it every year. I deal with it every year.
To be clear, I cannot be certain pastor terminations accelerate at Christmas. Perhaps the numbers seem high since the timing is so insidious. Regardless, these considerations apply regardless of the time of year.
- Many pastor firings occur because one or a few malcontents are spreading rumors. Please check the sources of these rumors. Please ask people other than the malcontents and bullies.
- A number of pastor firings occur due to underhanded actions by other staff. I know of one situation where the executive pastor did not like the leadership of the pastor, so he worked in darkness with the personnel committee to get the pastor fired. The personnel committee never asked for the pastor’s side of the conflict.
- Many pastors are fired without any explanation. I am surprised how often this reality transpires. Typically, the personnel committee or similar group tells the pastors they will not get a severance if they challenge them or question them.
- Very few pastors get adequate severance when they are fired. It typically takes several months for a pastor to find a job. Severance often runs out before then.
- Your church is labeled as a “preacher-eating” church. Your church’s reputation and witness are hurt in the community. You will wonder why other pastors decline to interview for the open position. They know. They’ve heard what you did.
- If you had been willing to be patient and Christ-like, pastors would likely seek another job without your firing them. If you let pastors know their job is in jeopardy and give them six to nine months to find another position, many will do so. Pastors can always find another church much easier if they have a church. And the church avoids the pain, conflict, and dirtied reputation that comes with firing a pastor.
So why did I write this article in the midst of the Christmas season? The answer is simple. I am working with three pastors who have been terminated almost identically as the points I noted above. I don’t want to rain on your Christmas parade, but these three families are already hurting deeply. I wanted you to hear the other side of the story.
Let me hear from you.
Posted on December 10, 2018
With nearly 40 years of ministry experience, Thom Rainer has spent a lifetime committed to the growth and health of local churches across North America.
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91 Comments
I would like to explore the idea of Tom Rainer coming to my church
I have been forced terminated twice in my life. The first occasion was very painful since I was let go of in late Oct. I wish churches would understand that from Oct through Dec. it is very difficult time for a pastor to be looked at by a committee. Most search committees take a rest from the process due to the holiday season. I will never forget struggling to make ends meet and have Christmas for my 3 kids all who were under 5.
The other occasion was just as painful but they did allow me to stay on staff and relocate. It was a lot easier of a transition because I had work. However, it was difficult on my family since we had to live separated during the week. Thankfully the church I went to was very loving to my family during this time period.
Being force terminated is always painful and difficult to the pastor and his family. The wounds last long after the move. I wish people would understand that it is a whole lot easier to move one’s letter than a pastor to move his couch.
The one key point that I really want to emphasize is the no reason given.
Both my terminations I was just asked to leave with no real reason given. The lack of clarity is always something that is a “thorn in a flesh” for all terminated pastors. We need to know the why, because if there was a real problem in our leadership and ministry it needs to be known. A person cannot strive to change a problem if they aren’t aware of what was the problem.
Praying for the men who have been force terminated. I pray that God will give them healing and encouragement from the body of Christ.
I was terminated with no clear reason just last week. This comes after being let go by the IMB just two years ago during that whole mess. My wife and two boys are all feeling the effect of this. This is hard.
Where is the Christlikeness in all of this? This is part of the reason we struggle getting people to attend church. Some churches devour their pastors and, as one commenter posted, some pastors devour their staff and churches. A person from the Presbyterian denomination noted that some churches who can’t fire their pastors choose to torture them. Why is it that we as followers of Christ have such difficulties in working out our problems in a Christian manner? We have the keys to do so in Christ. We choose to ignore Christ’s teachings. I don’t know that I have offered anything to the discussion, just a theological/philosophical rant for what it’s worth. Blessings to the pastors who find themselves unemployed this season. May God bless you and keep you during this difficult time. Thank you for all you do, Thom Rainer.
I’m a pastor, and I think your comments are spot-on. God bless you for having the courage to speak up.
A couple of thoughts on this:
1.) In congregational forms of church government (which is my background), the church-at-large votes to call a pastor. This isn’t a popularity vote, but should be an opportunity to give each congregant an opportunity to state whether or not he or she agrees that the pastoral candidate is called by God to be the pastor of that particular congregation at that time.
If that is how a pastor is hired, then the same process should follow if an issue(s) arises where it’s questionable if the pastor’s ability to continue in that role is compromised.
2.) All of the pastors in a local community or area should covenant together to hold up each other from being bullied or clobbered by a few bad actors.
When a troublemaker leaves a church unrepentant and attempts to join another church, that pastor should refuse to allow the unrepentant person into fellowship until reconciliation is attempted with the former church.
If one pastor is being pressured to leave, other pastors in the community should intervene and offer their services to confront, mediate, or whatever is appropriate for the situation.
What affects one church will affect the other churches in the community.
Take this just as food for thought, for what it is worth, but I have struggled for some time with the idea of pastors. Period. Not the idea of preachers, but I use the term “pastor” to describe a position considered to be of spiritual authority, and considered to be a career, and considered to be a “right” not to be “fired”, and considered to be a position that while a career should be treated differently from other careers.
Cut me I bleed Baptist, or so my family says. But I am coming to the position, slowly and painfully that we laity hamstring the church with the concept of clergy.
And to the position that all positions, even the preacher, should be volunteer positions done more in a “supply” manner so there is no expectation to a right of continuity if the church feels this is detrimental.
If your mortgage or car payment or kid’s food and shoes do not depend on my liking what you preach, you are far more free to preach what I truly need to hear. And conversely, if I feel you far afield of what our Lord actually teaches it is far easier to stop you from spreading nonsense on my dime.
So both our consciences can function far more freely.
I know that would be a bitter pill to consider if you have spent years racking up debt and preparing for a “ministry” career that suddenly disappears. Just remember the congregation has years of work and money invested in the relationship also.
Maybe a real paradigm shift to a more “old Baptist” model would bring greater health to the church and be more fair in the long run to the “clergy.”
More and more I realize real Christianity does not need a p r staff, shamans, special clothing, sacred space, or a music and printing industry.
But it sure needs a lot more of us to live it out by the Book.
Just my musings on a cold morning, your mileage may vary.
So very thankful that you are not in my congregation….
No worries. They’ve been leaving yours and other congregations like yours at an accelerating pace. Theoretically, that should bother you, not make you thankful.
Don’t muzzle the ox treading out the grain. If pastors were volunteer wed have ignorant pastors because they’d have mo formal theological training.
“If pastors were volunteer wed have ignorant pastors because they’d have mo formal theological training.”
I don’t think that’s strictly true. I’ve known seminary trained pastors who are bivocational, and some take no salary from their congregations. That’s fine, but the church needs to understand that his time for ministry will be limited. His time for study and sermon preparation will also be limited. Too many churches want it both ways. They expect a pastor to put in 40 hours a week at his secular job, devote another 40 hours to ministry at no pay, and then they’ll be the first to criticize him if he never spends time with his family. That is just plain wrong.
Also the congregation is at the mercy of the secular employer who pays the employee. The pastor employed outside of the ministry will alway be obligated to the money. There will always be a divided mission. If the employer needs you to work longer hours and weekends to keep your job, then the church will be second.
The Bible clearly speaks of elders, or pastors, who have spiritual authority in the church. They may not necessarily get paid but their authority is without question Biblical. Every healthy, vibrant, growing church that I know of is pastor led. Not committee led, not deacon led, not congregation led, but pastor led. Authority in the Bible is always top down.
The problem with strictly supply or volunteer led is there often is no long term goal. Speaking from a denomination where a portion of our churches are covered by supply clergy they get things done but there’s no plan and encouragement for growth. Continuity of leadership means the church doesn’t wonder where their leadership is coming from.
In my ministry location, I was the 5th clergy in 10 years (all the others were supply or time certain) and the church was being sustained but not always with a purpose. Beginning my 9th year, it would be unfair to say things are rosy but there is energy to provide witness and to meet the needs of our community. Things aren’t perfect but our Parish is exploring its ministry in a way that isn’t the “same old, same old”.
This just happened to a seminary friend of mine the first week of December. His deacons said things were just not working out.
As a point of question: how does this trend, issue get addressed or reversed? What role can the local Association or State Convention take in addressing what is often “pastoral abuse” by a dysfunctional congregation?
The local association and state convention will do nothing. What you will get is the reply of “each church is autonomous” and they will not get involved.
We’re called to preach and pastor (those of us who are pastors). There are no guarantees though once you get in it. A lot of churches are run by ungodly people. People in leadership positions: both men and women. 1 Timothy 2:12. This should not be so. It seems that there are unhealthy churches than healthy ones. If you’re in a healthy church, as a pastor, you are blessed. Sometimes, churches can and will force you out over absolutely nothing. They may give you six months of severance, at most, if you leave. But that’s not always the case. Sometimes, it will be nothing. Then, often, maybe 2-3 months. Unless a pastor has had an affair, been stealing money, or been grossly disrespectful to members, the church ought to give him some severance if he is let go. Over nothing. How much? Six months is about right. Even then, though, the process of finding another pastorate can take up to 2 years. As pastors know, it’s not a quick process. And there are hundreds of resumes for every pastoral opening. A man’s life and his family’s life is turned upside down when a church lets him go, but there is no caring, no feeling. Just a general businesslike approach and “He’s our hireling who we pay and who we can let go when we please.” That’s bad. Sometimes, I think it would be best if we had no paid pastors. Just let them all work secular jobs.
Pastor said, “Sometimes, I think it would be best if we had no paid pastors. Just let them all work secular jobs.”
Bingo!
OR
Like many who go to the mission field, raise your support from those who see the hand and calling of God upon you.
When speaking and living the truth to others jeopardizes our or our family’s income and well being, we are effectively neutered and rendered hostage. This empowers the enemy among us because the reality of needing our paycheck this month changes what we are willing to do or say. This, in turn, quenches what the Spirit wants to do in and through us.
In my post above meant to say, “There are more unhealthy churches than healthy ones.” The reason I say, “Sometimes, I think it would be better if there were no paid pastors,” is: When your livelihood is tied to preaching and/or leading, it’s not always easy to preach the truth or lead well.” You can be forced out over absolutely nothing and the church will move on from you. But the wounds will be there. And the scars will remain well into the future. And, too, often pastor kids turn away from the church as they get into their 30s and 40s. They want no part of it because (and I hate to say this) they see the hypocrisy in ppl who claim to be Christians, but whose lives and words show no evidence at all of it. Pastors are chewed up and spit out with no feeling and decency at all. Some churches would be better off closed instead of continuing to exist as the country clubs they really are. They’re not worship centers, but places of gab, entertainment, and socializing. God help the church of Christ in America! There’s too much world in the church and not enough church in the world in many places.
I weep.
I seethe.
The ‘model’ is busted.
We’ve done this to ourselves both pastor and lay people. (I hate to even speak the distinction as it shouldn’t be there)
We are to be known by our love. Alas, such is all too often not the case. More lamp stands are in danger of being removed….
Appreciate your words of encouragement to churches to give the pastor time to look for another place. On the other hand, I came into a situation where the previous pastor had been given such grace and he abused it staying on three years after the board had indicated that a change was needed. And when he went he made the board vote him out and it was a close vote. It almost ran the church into the ground. I also had an experience with staff person with whom dealt with for a year before I shared the concerns with the board. We tried for six months to salvage his ministry, but in the end he resigned. And he left a lot of damage behind.
When I hear of a minister being ‘fired’, the phrase used by the ones doing the firing is ‘God has lead is to etc etc. i’ve been there and heard that and eventually had to file for public assistance in order to survive. There are businesses who won’t hire a ex minister.
In my jurisdiction, churches can be found guilty of wrongful dismissal and any rules of any of a church presbytery, district, local church or etc.) are not valid in legal matters. I would counsel the fired pastor to see a lawyer quickly. It galls me when church people huddle under that banner of ‘god is leading us.
By pass the spiritual pablum of God has something better plannned. Life doesn’t operate that way.
I could sense one time that a group of people (some of whole were related) in a congregation were showing a lot of like towards one of their cousins, and I sent word to the minister that he should start looking for a place to go before they could/would force him out. Some ministers should perhaps (seek help to) negotiate job contract to offer some more protection before taking a position.
Because churches receive so many resumes and pastors are desperate to find a new position they have no leverage to negotiate anything.
That has been true historically. But it’s changing.
A few months to find a position? Try a few years!
Every open position receives hundreds of resumes. I don’t know how many times I’ve been in the top two or three only to get passed over. A lot of pastors are trying to flee toxic churches. You say there’s a shortage of pastors I say there’s a shortage of real churches.