Need your opinion...

Londie · 03-25-2009, 01:45 PM

So in my church's search for a new pastor, some drama has arisen and I'd like some outside opinions about it. Going to try to give a brief description of events but it may get kinda wordy. Sorry!

Right now we have an interim pastor until the church can find a new one to vote in. The church has this committee set up that has the job of going out and finding potential candidates and getting them appts. to preach and such. Now, the committee has no real power without going through the Board first.

One person on said committee, who also happens to hold two positions in the church ( asst. sunday school superintendint and asst. teacher for the kindergarten class - my class. ) has been nothing less than shady. Two weeks ago, he started going around to different members of the church with these "petitions" to override the pastor and board on a certain rule in our articles of faith. That rule being the church needed the pastor's approval before scheduling someone else to preach on sunday morning.

No where in our articles of faith does it state that it is ok to go around petitioning the congregation for the pastor to do something or to go against anything. this person approached me, while i was teaching my class ( two of the kids in that class were the interim pastor's kids btw ), spouting off that the pastor was being stupid and i needed to sign that piece of paper. Also outright lying come to find out, about some of the stuff the pastor actually had said.

After SS was over, I pulled our pastor aside and explained to him what was going on and what was said. And that it was all said in front of the kids. After that, he went to talk to said person, and said person lied again, stating he never came into my class and there were no kids in there.

Obviously, I'm furious and I feel that something needs to be done. Not only about the petitioning, lying, etc, but about the committee as a whole. the committee has been looking out not for the church as a whole, but for their own special interests this entire time we've been on a pastor search and they are being very hush hush about everything.

the interim pastor and myself both agree that "something" has to be done, but we are very unsure of how to proceed. We have to tred very carefully cause this will inevitably cause a huge uproar and some dissention within the church. The people in question are very well known and respected members of the congregation and the one person in question has a lot of sway with a lot of people.

Thought, opinions, suggestions?

Ruzan · 04-02-2009, 01:41 PM

Ugh.. What a horribly uncomfortable situation you have been placed in the middle of

I can only pray this has calmed itself down by now.

Bless,
Ruz

Eric · 04-19-2009, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruzan

Ugh.. What a horribly uncomfortable situation you have been placed in the middle of

I can only pray this has calmed itself down by now.

Bless,
Ruz

Agreed, I hope this has worked out.

EaglesWings · 04-19-2009, 09:07 PM

It sounds to me like you need to bring this matter before the Board. If there is a serious concern with the behavior and integrity of any member, especially in a pastoral search committee, the leadership of the church needs to be involved in making the decisions that are the best for the church. It sounds like this person (and possibly the whole search committee) may not respect the authority of the interim pastor.

I don't know if your church is affiliated with any other denominations or any other churches, but another step could be to involve an impartial mediator. It sounds like this person (and maybe others) has a serious issue with the interim pastor, and it would be best if that issue was aired so that it can be dealt with.

Secrecy should not be the order of the day in a pastoral search process. I have served on a pastoral search committee, and our processes were fully transparent to the congregation.

Whatever you do, don't try to engage with anyone alone. Always make sure you have one or two trusted friends with you in accordance with Matthew 18.

I will be praying for you and your church.

Londie · 04-23-2009, 01:19 PM

Things are working themselves out I suppose. There's still a lot of tension in the church but our services have been really good as of late. Just keep my little church in your prayers that the congregation will do what God wants and not put their own wants first. Thanks

Praise · 05-14-2009, 08:39 PM

Have you ever read the book 'the emotionally healthy church?'

I realise that I'm late to the discussion (I didn't think this site was still operational). This book discusses some of what you just spoke about.

Good luck in a peaceful and Godly resolution. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made.

Wishing you clarity,

Praise

03-25-2009, 01:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
Londie Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 77 My Photos: (0)	Need your opinion... So in my church's search for a new pastor, some drama has arisen and I'd like some outside opinions about it. Going to try to give a brief description of events but it may get kinda wordy. Sorry! Right now we have an interim pastor until the church can find a new one to vote in. The church has this committee set up that has the job of going out and finding potential candidates and getting them appts. to preach and such. Now, the committee has no real power without going through the Board first. One person on said committee, who also happens to hold two positions in the church ( asst. sunday school superintendint and asst. teacher for the kindergarten class - my class. ) has been nothing less than shady. Two weeks ago, he started going around to different members of the church with these "petitions" to override the pastor and board on a certain rule in our articles of faith. That rule being the church needed the pastor's approval before scheduling someone else to preach on sunday morning. No where in our articles of faith does it state that it is ok to go around petitioning the congregation for the pastor to do something or to go against anything. this person approached me, while i was teaching my class ( two of the kids in that class were the interim pastor's kids btw ), spouting off that the pastor was being stupid and i needed to sign that piece of paper. Also outright lying come to find out, about some of the stuff the pastor actually had said. After SS was over, I pulled our pastor aside and explained to him what was going on and what was said. And that it was all said in front of the kids. After that, he went to talk to said person, and said person lied again, stating he never came into my class and there were no kids in there. Obviously, I'm furious and I feel that something needs to be done. Not only about the petitioning, lying, etc, but about the committee as a whole. the committee has been looking out not for the church as a whole, but for their own special interests this entire time we've been on a pastor search and they are being very hush hush about everything. the interim pastor and myself both agree that "something" has to be done, but we are very unsure of how to proceed. We have to tred very carefully cause this will inevitably cause a huge uproar and some dissention within the church. The people in question are very well known and respected members of the congregation and the one person in question has a lot of sway with a lot of people. Thought, opinions, suggestions? __________________ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

04-02-2009, 01:41 PM	#2 (permalink)
Ruzan Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Indiana Posts: 106 My Photos: (1)	Re: Need your opinion... Ugh.. What a horribly uncomfortable situation you have been placed in the middle of I can only pray this has calmed itself down by now. Bless, Ruz __________________ "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

04-19-2009, 09:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
EaglesWings Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 13 My Photos: (0)	Re: Need your opinion... It sounds to me like you need to bring this matter before the Board. If there is a serious concern with the behavior and integrity of any member, especially in a pastoral search committee, the leadership of the church needs to be involved in making the decisions that are the best for the church. It sounds like this person (and possibly the whole search committee) may not respect the authority of the interim pastor. I don't know if your church is affiliated with any other denominations or any other churches, but another step could be to involve an impartial mediator. It sounds like this person (and maybe others) has a serious issue with the interim pastor, and it would be best if that issue was aired so that it can be dealt with. Secrecy should not be the order of the day in a pastoral search process. I have served on a pastoral search committee, and our processes were fully transparent to the congregation. Whatever you do, don't try to engage with anyone alone. Always make sure you have one or two trusted friends with you in accordance with Matthew 18. I will be praying for you and your church.

04-23-2009, 01:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
Londie Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 77 My Photos: (0)	Re: Need your opinion... Things are working themselves out I suppose. There's still a lot of tension in the church but our services have been really good as of late. Just keep my little church in your prayers that the congregation will do what God wants and not put their own wants first. Thanks __________________ "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."

05-14-2009, 08:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
Praise Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 22 My Photos: (0)	Re: Need your opinion... Have you ever read the book 'the emotionally healthy church?' I realise that I'm late to the discussion (I didn't think this site was still operational). This book discusses some of what you just spoke about. Good luck in a peaceful and Godly resolution. Sometimes hard decisions have to be made. Wishing you clarity, Praise