No Wiggle Room On A Church Staff

Marion Aldridge asks: what happens when it’s obvious an individual and a church are no longer a fit?

(This blog describes a problem I have never heard named. Unfortunately, I have not proposed a solution. I hope I am starting a helpful conversation, since I don’t have a Final Answer. What are your ideas?)

Most churches are small. Compared to the government’s various definitions of “small business,” which can be up to 50-500 employees, our congregations are tiny. It is a rare church that has a dozen employees. Most have one (the pastor) or two (the pastor and an administrative assistant). Some have full-time or part-time employees with very specialized skills—financial secretary, minister of music, preschool coordinator.

If someone is a good employee, but in the wrong job, larger businesses can move a person to an assignment where he or she can succeed.

Aha!

Churches can’t do that. We are too small. There is no wiggle room. Promotions and demotions are nearly impossible in ecclesiastical life within the same congregation.

Continue reading.

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