Maybe one day there will be no need for Pastors’ Hope Network.
But I doubt it.
There will always be situations where, no matter what steps are taken, a church will need to dismiss a pastor. Sometimes a parting of ways is the healthiest thing for the pastor and church alike. The key is to do it right.
Doing it right involves measures that might even prevent a dismissal.
Doing it right just might lead to reconciliation and restoration.
Consider these 7 strategies for dealing with difficult situations and the possible termination of a pastor:
1. Reflect the Character of God.
Whether church leaders are in the prevention stage, reconciliation/restoration stage, or dismissal stage with a pastor, every step should reflect the character of God. His Word clearly spells out how we are to treat one another:
- “And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
- “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 7:12).
- “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29). Conversations that consist of complaining and grumbling against the pastor or staff are blatant sin. They must stop.
Bottomline: Churches should treat their pastors with respect and dignity, even if dismissal is unavoidable.
2. Have Godly Leadership.
Churches need people in leadership roles whose lives demonstrate that they are committed to living out the Scriptures. If churches are going to deal with difficult situations and possibly dismiss a pastor, they must have leaders who are committed to following biblical teaching. Family name or size of bank account are not qualifications for church leaders.
3. Commit to a Rational Response.
Joshua 22 tells the story of a time when the tribes of Israel had a huge misunderstanding. Side One was ready to go to war against Side Two. Side Two didn’t even realize they’d upset Side One. Thankfully, before going to war, Side One sent a delegation to talk with Side Two. If you read all of Joshua 22, you’ll discover these 6 vital steps of a rational response that ultimately prevented bloodshed:
- Listen
- Investigate
- Listen some more
- Keep an open mind
- Gather all facts
- Make a decision
4. Develop Clear, God-honoring HR Policies.
Keeping #1 above in mind, develop clear HR policies that include regular performance reviews. The purpose of performance reviews is to develop an improvement plan when needed. And the whole purpose of the performance improvement plan is to give pastors a chance to improve. Give the Holy Spirit time to work rather than rushing to dismissal.
5. Work toward solutions.
Provide guidance, coaching, counseling – whatever is needed to help the pastor succeed. Work toward a solution. There should be multiple conversations with the pastor before a dismissal process begins. If the pastor is blindsided, then Jesus’ clear instructions in Matthew 18 have been ignored and that is sin on the part of church leadership.
If after working toward a solution it becomes necessary to dismiss a pastor, do it with love and grace.
6. Provide Time.
Dismissing a pastor with love and grace means giving them time to find another job before they must leave. If the pastor has done something immoral, illegal, or unethical, then yes, the dismissal should be immediate. Otherwise, give them time to find other employment. It is extremely difficult for an unemployed pastor to find work of any kind, so avoid putting them in that position.
7. Provide a Severance.
Dismissing a pastor with love and grace means providing them with a generous severance that includes health insurance and counseling for every member of the family. If the pastor’s family lives in a church-owned home, allow them to remain there for an extended period. Relocating, whether the pastor buys or rents, requires employment and finding employment takes time.
Losing a ministry position is devastating for pastors and their families. Depending on how a church handles the matter, the dismissal may very well end a pastor’s ministry altogether. When looking for a new pastor, many churches will not consider a pastor who has been dismissed from a previous church. Other pastors and their spouses are so traumatized by the way a church has treated them that they walk away from church ministry.
So church leaders, as retired pastor and blogger Joe McKeever puts it, “If you are going to fire a preacher, you’d better have good reason, friend. Because you will face a holy God and account for your behavior.”
Amen, Bro. Joe. Amen.
McKeever, Joe. “When to Fire a Pastor.” Posted June 9, 2016. https://joemckeever.com/wp/fire-pastor/
