George Bullard’s Posterous

Ministry Partner and Strategic Coordinator with The Columbia Partnership 
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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?

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Comments (4)

Nov 13, 2008
Mike Catoe said...
I was working while in college for a local traditional church. I had been there right at two years as a music intern/youth & college worship staff person. We rehearsed and rehearsed for the Christmas Cantata for the Fall of 2000. December 10th was the day. The Minister of Music approached me right afterwards, congratulated me on the orchestra's performance and told me that "the funding for my position had run out and that I wasn't needed anymore." I was asked to pack my things that night and vacate my office.

That was just my experience though.

Nov 13, 2008
George Bullard said...
Thanks, Mike, for sharing. That funding ran out quickly and suddenly according to your story.
Nov 13, 2008
Mike Catoe said...
absolutely.  I kept in contact with the youth pastor there and they hired someone to do all college and youth worship within 2 months of the funding running out.  An intern was hired two months after that.
Nov 13, 2008
Bryan Thompson said...
In early 2005, I joined the ministry staff of a large church in OKC. I had been approached by the pastor since he had heard of some of the youth ministry work I had done over the previous years. I admit, I was a bit cocky and anxious to "climb the ladder," so to speak, and as such, I didn't ask too many questions of this new church.

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.

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