Church Staff Termination
Typically the termination of ministers focuses on the termination of pastors. What if that analysis is expanded to include the termination of church staff? The likelihood is that many more—in fact multiples of—church staff are terminated as compared to pastors. But, typically such terminations do not make the same headlines. They do not get the same sympathy. It is often felt they were incompetent and desired it. Or, if they misbehave it is not forgiven as often as is the misbehavior of pastors. Church staff are just plain easier to terminate.
Trying to terminate a church member is sort of like attempts to sack a quarterback. Not all attempts result in a sack, but many impact significantly the life and ministry of staff members. Like a quarterback, at times church staff persons are pressured, rushed, driven out of the pocket, forced to run, or intercepted. This may happen as often as their ministry play is successful.
Have you ever been terminated from a church staff? If so, what is your story?
Comments (4)
I received a rude awakening shortly after arriving. As it turned out, the previous youth pastor of this church (the guy I replaced) had been fired for some legal reasons and a few "loud-mouth" parents were not happy about his termination. They began a witch hunt as a way to rid themselves of their pastors. I lasted 8 weeks and was soon stranded in OKC with a 7-month pregnant wife. Also, suffice it to say, the rest of the staff - including the pastor - were run out within a year.
That was just my experience though.