Circuit Thoughts

Early in my career as a pastor, I was confronted with a hurtful situation. It seems a misunderstanding came up, and a couple of members wanted to call a staff parish meeting. Now, for those of you who don’t know what a staff parish committee is, this is the group responsible for the employment of the pastor.

As I was in my office, the members came in wanting to know who was on that committee. I told them, and then I asked, “Am I in trouble?” Their response was, “We don’t know.” This is not a good way to start a pastor/church relationship. Anyway, I asked what the problem was, they explained to me their understanding of the issue. Of course, they were wrongly informed of my part in this, and I requested they bring together, not the committee, but those who were upset. We met in my office, I explained my part in the misunderstanding, they were satisfied and getting ready to leave.

I stopped them. I said, “Hold on, you are not getting away that easily.” Of course, they didn’t understand why I was a bit upset by the proceedings, they were satisfied, it should be done. Well, I wasn’t.

You see, from my first day at that church, I explained to the congregation that I have an open-door policy. If anyone has a question or concern about what I do or have done, I asked them to come and talk to me first. I have no problem explaining myself, nor my actions. I also have very few ditches I am willing to die in. I’m not afraid to take advice and if need be change some things. I believed and still do in Matthew 18:15-20. This passage explains how to handle conflict, and the first step is to confront the person in person.

I explained to the members that they were willing to start a ruckus in the church without even hearing from me personally. If the committee meeting had been called, I would not have had a chance to defend myself, and in all probability my time there would have been under a cloud.

Christ calls us to try to resolve our conflicts in person to start off with, then bring in a witness, then the committee.

Now, I bring this up to you, not because I’m having problems, but because, I know there may be some ministers walking through fire. Your minister may have done something or said something, not wrong, but not to your liking. Maybe there is a rumor going around about your minister. The point is, before calling the inquisition, find out from him or her personally. Don’t take rumors as fact. Let them have a chance to answer questions they may not even know are being asked. Who knows, your conversation could very well help them be better ministers.

Ministers are human, they will make mistakes, they will mess up at times. It is your job as a church to help and guide, not accuse, and convict. Just a thought

Shalom my friends.

See you in church.