Removing a Pastor

[9-iron]

What is the overall method the Baptist use to remove a pastor? For whatever reason there may be for removing him/her I would like to know how you guys determine this and what steps or method do you use to rid of them. Additionally what do you do to make sure the person removed doesn't cause harm at another church??

 

[Crazy Liz]

Most pastors I have seen removed were not removed for reasons that would lead one to expect them to do harm at another church. It was more like removing the CEO of a corporation, usually very political. Enough members didn't like something about the pastor, and they maneuvered him out.

Some churches have a provision in their bylaws for a "vote of confidence." This means a member, or a certin number of members can demand a congregational vote as to whether they want to pastor to stay or not. Most pastors will resign either before the vote or after if they receive less than 90% approval.

 

[bleechers]

Enough members didn't like something about the pastor, and they maneuvered him out.

Perhaps he was just teaching universalism.

 

[9-iron]

Enough members didn't like something about the pastor, and they maneuvered him out.

I understand. Hey even you love your pastor there are still going to be some things you don't like or completely agree with. The situation I had in mind was more of guy who was giving false teachings, manipulating membership, had a personal agenda, in it for the money or this type of thing.

 

[Crazy Liz]

I understand. Hey even you love your pastor there are still going to be some things you don't like or completely agree with. The situation I had in mind was more of guy who was giving false teachings, manipulating membership, had a personal agenda, in it for the money or this type of thing.

Well, I can't think of any pastor forced out who didn't have some members of the congregation who at least thought he was "manipulating membership" or "had a personal agenda."

It's easy to apply those phrases to all kinds of actions. Probably no pastor is completely free of these.

 

[Sinai]

What is the overall method the Baptist use to remove a pastor? For whatever reason there may be for removing him/her I would like to know how you guys determine this and what steps or method do you use to rid of them.

Since most Baptist churches are democratic in nature, a majority of the members can send the pastor packing--though, as Liz pointed out, any sizeable vote against the pastor (even though not a majority) may be sufficient to help him to determine that it's the Lord's will for him to be elsewhere. There are, however, some Baptist churches that apparently follow the fundamentalist position that the pastor is the shepherd of his flock. In those churches, the congregation may have the same problem in removing their pastor as a flock of sheep would presumably have in removing their shepherd. There are also some churches in which the church is pretty well run by the deacons or by certain committees. Since each Baptist church is autonomous, each is generally free to make its own rules and bylaws.

Additionally what do you do to make sure the person removed doesn't cause harm at another church??

Are you asking how to keep him from harming another church or are you asking about how to keep him from causing harm to his current church by taking the helm at a nearby church?

 

[9-iron]

a majority of the members can send the pastor packing--though, as Liz pointed out, any sizeable vote against the pastor

This is kind of ey opening in that I can see a reverse situation here. Just as much as a pastor might wield illegitimate authority in his position, I can a group take up an illegitimate 'cause' to have a righteous pastor removed. Is this every a problem in the Baptist churches.

Are you asking how to keep him from harming another church or are you asking about how to keep him from causing harm to his current church by taking the helm at a nearby church?Today 02:55 PM

Just causing harm period.

 

[theseed]

My church hires Donald Trump to fire people

 

[Crazy Liz]

This is kind of ey opening in that I can see a reverse situation here. Just as much as a pastor might wield illegitimate authority in his position, I can a group take up an illegitimate 'cause' to have a righteous pastor removed. Is this every a problem in the Baptist churches.

It happens all the time.

 

[9-iron]

It happens all the time

Well that is unfortunate. In a way I feel all churches have some fundamental flaws in their government. This in my opinion leads to all the problems we have in the church concerning the issue.


Do you think the Baptist pastor should be given more authority over the church?

Do you think Baptist pastors should be given less authority and the church affairs along with ministry be ran by a some sort of board?

 

[eldermike]

Do you think the Baptist pastor should be given more authority over the church?

Do you think Baptist pastors should be given less authority and the church affairs along with ministry be ran by a some sort of board?

I am now in a SBA church that has adopted the Presbyterian "way", we are totally elder led, including the pastor, He is the teaching elder. We keep all other matters SBC. I have served in SB churches where the pastor was fired by the same committee that hired him and then the church split with half following him out the door. If you vote on the pastor you will lose all that vote to keep him once He's gone.

Just to throw it out FYI: this forum (CF) runs just like a biblical church. Teaching elder, elders, deacons, members. The structure is right out of Acts, just like your church should be. The word committee is not in the bible, voting is not a method used by God, He hates to lose those votes so He never mentioned it in scripture.

Mike

 

[9-iron]

we are totally elder led, including the pastor, He is the teaching elder

Yeah, I kinda of agree with this form of government. It is better imo than where everyone gets a vote. JMO.

 

[theseed]

All come on, you all know the D. Trump post is hillarious

 

[bleechers]

we are totally elder led, including the pastor, He is the teaching elder

Government by a plurality of men as elders is the best. The NT speaks of "elders" and "pastors" never "THE pastor".

Also, we teach that the gifts of the Spirit are diverse among the Body of Christ, yet in a one-man ministry we expect one brother to be gifted in ALL the gifts. This is not rational. Among a group of elders, you will see a diversity of gifts: teaching, exhorting, administration, etc.

In elder-system local gatherings you get far less burn-out than in the one-man Pastor system because each functions in his gifts.

It is also a safeguard against false doctrine. It is easier to spot and remove a false teacher if he rises up from among several than if he is "the man". Many a congregation has suffered false teachers with little recourse because the one bringing the false doctrine had a "title".

Elder systems also guard against the clergy/laity distinctions that tend to creep into churches. The priesthood of the believer is better protected when no one is singled out as "the authority" or as "the last word." In a group of elders, authority is shared and even the "teaching" elders are scrutinized.