![]() ![]() As a church leader, you have the opportunity to be a source of hope and encouragement for the pastor during this difficult time. ![]() Unfortunately, many pastors feel like they have nowhere to turn when they are facing these kinds of challenges. It's important to be sensitive to these emotions and to provide resources for the pastor to help them through this tough time. There will be feelings of shame, rejection, and even depression. A pastor who has been let go from their church is going through a very difficult time emotionally. If at all possible, try to work with the pastor on what would be an ideal severance package so that they can provide for their family during this difficult time.Įmotional Transition: This is an area where churches often drop the ball. Be fair and generous in your severance, keeping in mind that this person will likely be looking for another job soon as well as the difficult road for transitioning pastors in general. Hopefully your church has already developed a policy regarding severance. There are two areas to consider in terms of creating a transition package for the outgoing pastor.įinancial Transition: A severance package is something that should be done in consultation with your church's legal counsel. Put together a transition package for the pastor. Prayer unites and grounds us as a church family, and it gives us the strength to move forward. ![]() We need to pray for wisdom and guidance as we make this difficult decision, and we need to pray for the pastor and their family who will be affected. It might seem like a no-brainer, but it's important to remember that prayer should be the foundation of all our decisions as Christians. This is probably the most important step of all. Utilizing these steps brings greater clarity and unity to a church in an otherwise chaotic time. The key for church leaders is to help people feel safe so they can do their jobs effectively during these difficult times. Like Adam and Eve in the garden, both responses are versions of hiding and are born out of fear. Neither are healthy reactions and will only serve to further divide the church. This is often the case with churches going through a difficult season. Protection: The other reaction people have is to hunker down, keep their heads down, not make any waves, and just try to ride it out until things blow over. This often happens in churches when staff feels like they need to take sides or prove their loyalty. Performance: If they feel like their job is on the line, they will likely go into overdrive to prove themselves and their value to the organization. When people do not feel safe in community, they will often go one of two ways: Remember your church and church staff are paying close attention in these difficult situations and will naturally connect the treatment of the outgoing pastor to how they, as a parishioner, might be treated in the future. It sets the tone for how the pastor will be perceived by the congregation, as well as how the church will be perceived by the community. How this is done can make all the difference in the world. Whatever the reason, there are certain key steps that church leadership must take when communicating a pastor is being let go. In some cases, it might be due to financial reasons, while in others, it might be due to moral failings or differences in vision for the future. We will say from the outset that there are a variety of reasons why a church might need to let a pastor go. ![]() After all, this is a person's livelihood we're talking about. But once the decision has been made, it's important to handle the situation with grace, dignity, and respect. The decision to let a pastor go is never an easy one. ![]()
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