You Are.. FIRED ... Protestants Can Do This

[Bruce S]

The other night, I was having a long [friendly] discussion with a Catholic friend of mine.

In this discussion, we were exchanging viewpoints on varioius issues facing the world and church's today. Of course, the problem the Catholic church is facing with allegations of sexual nature with youngsters came up.

Notwithstanding any issues on that. I told him, one of the best things about the denomination I have now joined [and most other Protestant denomination, not all, but most] is that the Pastor works FOR the congregation. He/She is hired by, paid by, and works at the discretion of the laity.

That is good, in my opinion, it makes for more accountability, unlike some denominations, where a bad leader can be appointed OVER YOU, without ANY SAYSO of the laity.

If a Pastor falls into trouble, or is doctrinally in gross error, the LAITY, can simply say..."You are FIRED Pastor!"

Comments?

 

[nyj]

Bruce, what happens if the laity are the ones in gross error and they fire their pastor who is trying to give them an orthodox message?

Let me ask you a question: Have you ever heard of a flock of sheep firing their shepherd?

 

[I can eat 50 eggs]

bingo NYJ.

I have been in several protestant churches where the congregation, as a whole, or powerful individuals had some very serious issues in there life. The pastor was to afraid to say anything, knowing it would cost him his job (like it did the one before him). Thus the sinning just kept on, and nobody confronted the problem.

and where is there more likely to be a problem, in the laity (a whole bunch of folks) or in the pastor?

 

[eldermike]

I have seen good pastors fired but I have seen more bad ones fired.

Pastors are not afraid of being fired, not the ones I know. God takes care of His Children.

 

[MikeMcK]

We can fire our pastors but there are a series of checks and balances that ensure that he isn't fired unjustly or unfairly.

Firing, itself, would be a last resort. The situation would have to be pretty desperate for it to come to that.

 

[Lotar]

I knew a pastor who was afriad to come out and tell the truth because he was afraid of being fired, or people leaving and lossing the finacial support. Quite sad.

At Calvary Chapel churches, the pastors can't be fired without great reason. The pastors can fire the elders.

 

[eldermike]

In my home church the Pastor is the teaching Elder. The Elders can fire him but it's unlikely because apart from a few specific reasons, it would take His vote along with ours.

 

[Lanakila]

My hubby was forced out of an Independent Baptist Church for preaching against racism. We had a feeling it was coming, when he wrote the sermon. But as the scripture states: I will obey God rather than man. He wasn't fired, because to do that the church has to have just cause (per its constitution). But, powerful people in the church, basically starved us out.

God took care of us, and this situation has strengthened our resolve to stand for what is right, no matter the circumstances. For church members to go against the pastor, that they themselves have voted and chosen to be their leader, is beyond imagination, but it happens.

 

[Metanoia02]

Notwithstanding any issues on that. I told him, one of the best things about the denomination I have now joined [and most other Protestant denomination, not all, but most] is that the Pastor works FOR the congregation. He/She is hired by, paid by, and works at the discretion of the laity.


Comments?

The Pastor or Priest works FOR God. If they forget that they should leave the ministry.

 

[Knight]

I've never seen a pastor fired. Though I've seen some that should have been.

The idea that a good pastor can get thrown out by a wicked elder board cuts both ways. Why is it people assume that the pastor is less likey to be corrupted than the elders?

 

[Lotar]

I've seen many more cases where the elders are the problem, but a pastor should care about pleasing God, not man. If it gets him fired, then it's God's will.

 

[ZiSunka]

Bruce, what happens if the laity are the ones in gross error and they fire their pastor who is trying to give them an orthodox message?

Let me ask you a question: Have you ever heard of a flock of sheep firing their shepherd?

It DOES happen, nyj, a lot more than you realize. PRE flocks quietly fire their pastors when bad things come up. If my pastor, God forbid, were found to have committed immorality, I would certainly vote to remove him. And guess what? We have that right. Yep, we hold congregational meetings to make all kinds of big decisions, like the one we had a few weeks ago to decide whether or not to start a contemporary worship service, or our annual meeting to decide which missions to support for the coming year, and so on. Each year, we vote to confirm or deny people who want to be elders.

Our congregation is lead by our pastor, but our structure is such that we take responisiblity for everything that happens within our church.

 

[ZiSunka]

The Pastor or Priest works FOR God. If they forget that they should leave the ministry.

But they are employed by the congregation.

 

[Bruce S]

Not ASSIGNED to you, often against your will.

 

[Bruno]

Let me ask you a question: Have you ever heard of a flock of sheep firing their shepherd?

nyj and I can eat 50 eggs,

Do you believe it is wise to follow a shepherd that abuses and harms his sheep?

 

[Plan 9]

Pardon me. At first I thought I might take part in what I'd hoped was a discussion, but on closer inspection, it appears to be purely a pro-con debate. This would mean that no one now taking part would be at all interested in any post I would make regarding my denomination's "middle road" approach.
Am I correct?

 

[Filia Mariae]

Plan 9,

I'd like to hear what you have to say.

In Christ,
Carly

 

[Filia Mariae]

Do you believe it is wise to follow a shepherd that abuses and harms his sheep?

Any man who abuses children has so badly disfigured his priesthood, an icon of the eternal priesthood of Christ, that he should no longer be permitted to serve as a priest. No one here is debating such an obvious fact.

But I think your comment shows a misunderstanding. You seem to think that lay Catholics have no voice, no control of their parish. Quite the opposite is true. Laity generally run the show, excepting of course the sacraments. This is unfortunate in my opinion- we would have far more orthodox parishes if more priests were running the show.

And of course there is the small matter of the perpetual painting of priests as pervert sickos when we know that 99% of them are dedicated, faithful, men of God.

In Christ,
Carly

 

[Plan 9]

Plan 9,

I'd like to hear what you have to say.

In Christ,
Carly

Thank you. I hope you still feel that way after I've posted here. I'm a United Methodist and we have rather an odd history; we just happened, much against John Wesley's will, and that has a lot to do with how we're set up.
So, if you don't happen to be familiar with our history, you might need to wade through a possibly less than sparkling post on that? I don't want to bore you.

 

[Filia Mariae]

I'd be interested to hear- my posts are often less sparkling than I would like