Act I, or Act V?
Last Tuesday, the senior pastor at my church announced that our Worship & Creative Arts pastor had been "let go."
Downsized.
Sacked.
There was "no finding of fault," and the reasons expressed in the announcement to the congregation this morning were "philosophical differences in approach to ministry" and "a disconnect" from the rest of the staff created by the music pastor's "work pattern." (Among other things, he worked from his home office/studio two days out of the week.)
I really shouldn't say much of anything in this venue, as I'm not really anonymous here and, moreover, I am under a service contract with the Church.
That said, I'd like prayer from anyone willing to give it. I need to meet with the senior pastor ASAP (ha ha, nice try...) and figure out if... well, if I really want to continue in this kind of atmosphere.
It's not that I disagree with the terms of the dismissal: If the pastor and the board feel that they need to sack someone, and are willing to take the legal risks involved/pay the severance costs, then I'll assume that they must have good-enough reasons.
What concerns me is that, in a church, nobody has stopped to ask "what's the spiritual dimension of this problem?"
If pentecostals have stopped asking that question, then we're all toast. Revival and anointing and miracles are one thing, but revival and anointing and miracles don't come without some careful self-scrutiny. (Or, if they do, they're not the sorts of revivals/anointings/miracles you'd really want to get involved with.)
Maybe some of the board members have asked that question. Now I need to go find one... Who's on the board, again???
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1 comment:
(sigh)
this raises all kinds of questions, doesn't it?
how can someone be "let go" if the kingdom is about relationship?
shouldn't "philosophical differences in approach to ministry" have been identified during the interview process?
again, shouldn't any "disconnect" have been dealt with through developing relationship?
there also seem to have been certain - perhaps unspoken? - expectations involving "work pattern(s)". can one pastor or disciple from one's home office/studio?
could you clarify what "this kind of atmosphere" really means?
"It's not that I disagree with the terms of the dismissal" -- that's not true...but then, you don't actually know those terms. what bothers me most about any "sacking" is that it seems contradictory to the notion of relationship and family, let alone pursuing redemptivity. how is this adandonment and rejection redemptive? healing? loving?
What concerns me is that, in a church, nobody has stopped to ask "what's the spiritual dimension of this problem?" well that's it exactly i think -- something like this is deeply wounding because it IS a spritiual act with spiritual impacts, let alone the effects it will have in the soulish realm of the congregation. people whispering and gossiping, people feeling suddenly unsafe and incovered, people being confused about leasddership and vision. it will also affect people's intellectual and emotional well-being.
and what about the worship leader in question? they're probably hurting as well.
"Revival and anointing and miracles are one thing, but revival and anointing and miracles don't come without some careful self-scrutiny." and all those things are dangerous without character and being shaped into the image of christ...
"Who's on the board, again???" i have no idea, either... :)
(sigh)
e.
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