In Part 1, we looked at how a bad match between a prospective pastor and church should stop the call process before taking both parties down.
In Part 2, we examined how a seemingly stable pastorate can be destroyed by a small group attacking the pastor. This especially is true when the attack is kept secret by the pastor, who asks for no help from mentors, denominational resources or—especially—church lay leaders.
Following a long-tenured pastor
Twenty years ago, I was introduced to a common problem for pastors who followed a beloved, long-tenured pastor. The new pastor usually turned out to be an “unintentional interim,” because there was no way the new pastor could measure up to the former pastor.
“That’s not how Rev. So-and-So did it,” members would grumble.
New vision was snuffed out. Changes in pastoral duties were not tolerated. The failure to let go of the old pastor and accept the new especially was true when the former pastor stayed attached to the church. After a short tenure, the new pastor would become a ministry fatality, leaving ministry for life and leaving the church in turmoil.
Today, I recognize this scenario still is alive and well. However, there’s another likely scenario that is just as common—if not more common—when following long-tenured pastors.
Case study
Pastor Bentley experienced a decade of success. Loved, followed and trusted, the congregation became more and more like Pastor Bentley in its personality and practice.
Unfortunately, what worked in the beginning, what grew the church originally, quit working after 10 years. The gradual decline went unnoticed for about five years. Then, the church spent another five years grumbling and wondering why.
Younger families had left. The church had grown older. Under the surface, everyone knew the church and pastor both needed a fresh start. However, the pastor by then was approaching retirement age and feared unemployment and loss of income.
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“No one would call someone my age to be pastor,” Bentley reflected, likely a true observation. So, resigning was off the table.
What did change was Bentley began to slack off, thinking, “I’ll just keep working at half-pace until they fire me.”
Still, no one said a word. No one wanted to hurt their beloved pastor’s feelings. The slow, annual rate of decline increased until a church that once ran more than 300 in attendance dropped to 125, and soon was counting only 50 senior citizens on an average Sunday morning.
Finally, a small group of leaders asked—or rather, demanded semi-nicely—the pastor retire. The pastor did, with whispers about being “forced out.”
With the horrific decline now attached to conflict over the pastor’s departure, the church found itself beyond desperation. It would take a miracle for it to recover. In fact, most outside observers would declare: “The church died long ago. It just hasn’t been buried.”
This scenario’s name is “Legion,” for there are many churches in this state.
In this case, the lay leaders were right and wrong. They were right to call for change. They were wrong to have waited so long.
Learning from others
The first lesson from a bad goodbye was: A courtship goodbye is better than consummating a mistake.
The second lesson from a bad goodbye is: Pastors who avoid conflict often hurt themselves, their church and the kingdom of God.
The third lesson from a bad goodbye is: As painful and scary as it may seem, if a time comes when you have given up, then give up.
Pray. Get counseling from an honest and impartial source—not a friend. Trust the Lord. It’s time to find another job.
There’s nothing shameful about secular work. Your church is made of people involved in just that.
Or find a new call that matches your abilities and energy level. It’s amazing how a new start can re-energize a pastor.
Or, maybe it’s a combination of the two—part-time secular and part-time ministry employment. Indicators say this is the growing area of future ministry.
But for the sake of your church, let them try something new before it’s too late to change course.
One doesn’t have to be a long-tenured pastor for the above scenario to take place. Sometimes, it just isn’t working and can’t be fixed.
Karl Fickling is the coordinator of interim ministry for the Baptist General Convention of Texas.
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