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How to Lead After a Church Split and Other Listener Questions – Rainer on Leadership #176

Podcast Episode #176

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On today’s episode, we answer a few listener questions. As always, you can submit your questions on the podcast page.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Pastors who lead after a church splits need a long-term view.
Discipleship is the act of becoming more like Christ.
The gospel is all about reconciliation.
When pastoring after a split, be prepared to give a great deal of pastoral care.
Behavior which harms the body of Christ should be confronted and reconciliation should be the goal.

The listener questions we answer this week are:

Kevin:

What advice would you give to a new minister of a recently split church as he assumes the pastoral responsibility of the remaining portion of the original congregation?

Aaron:

I’m a 22 year old pastor and I hear over and over again the importance of discipleship. I know what it is, I know what it means, but I don’t know how to do it. Where do I start? Do you have resources that you recommend for helping me to start disciplining?

Jefferson:

As the Church, what role should we play in dealing with racism, especially when a church is multicultural? Do we have a responsibility to help bring reconciliation?

Janet:

Do you believe it is true that we/the church cannot address bad behavior among our members because they are volunteers and not employees? How can we begin to change to culture of the church back to healthy accountability?

John:

Why are so many Christians silent in churches when a church bully(ies) are dishing out their abuse? How do they understand what it means to show Christ like love?

Stephen:

My church’s membership is growing smaller and older. Most members don’t understand or use social media. They don’t focus well on planning, delegation, goal-setting, establishment of timetables or deadlines. Financially strapped, they focus on prayer at THE solution while waiting for divine intervention to send them the money and the members they desperately need. However, I believe that God wants them to roll up their shirtsleeves nd do something besides praying and waiting.

Todd:

I have been in ministry for two decades now. I have served in children’s, youth, college, young adult, interim, and missions roles. I was also a senior pastor for a year. I left that pastorate feeling led into church planting. That journey led me to eventually being part of a team and assisting another lead planter for a season. Towards the end of the time in that role I started looking for a full time job in the ministry again. I have been looking for almost three years now. Discouragement has been difficult at times. I have heard from some churches but not many. I am unsure where to turn or what to do at this point. I have had my resume listed with the state conventions in several states as well as directly contacted a number of DOM’s in an area where my wife and I might like to live. My question is what can and should I do at this point? I feel stuck in a secular job, where I work as hard as I can, but I do not feel fulfilled in. And at times I worry some of my most productive years are being wasted outside of ministry.

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church. Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is a dynamic community of learners who are serious about ministry preparation biblical studies theological reflection and cultural engagement. Their faculty are gifted men and women who minister as much through research and writing as through local church involvement but their primary ministry is teaching and caring for students. Find out more about TEDS at Divinity.TIU.edu.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of I Will.

Resources

The Gospel Project
Bible Studies for Life
Explore the Bible
SmallGroup.com
Disciples Path
Replicate Ministries by Robby Gallaty
United by Trillia Newbell

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Help Me Choose the Cover of My Next Book

Today on the blog, I’m excited to share the title and concept behind my next book. Scheduled for a mid-2016 release, I’m writing Who Moved My Pulpit for those who are yearning to lead effective change in their congregations.

Here’s a little about the book:

Nine out of ten churches in America are either declining or growing slower than the community in which they are located. Stated simply, 90 percent of American churches are losing ground in their communities. Change is not an option; it is an urgent need. We don’t change our doctrines and biblical foundations, but we do change our methodologies and approaches for this rapidly changing culture. Based on my studies, consultations, and research of over 50,000 churches, I share how effective change has taken place in many churches. While it is not a formulaic approach, this book is a clear guide for church leaders who are not satisfied with the status quo, and who yearn for their churches and ministries to make a kingdom difference. This book is about true transformational change in the church.

Here’s where I need your help. B&H has provided the three covers below (click on the image to enlarge) to choose from. There are a few survey questions below the images for you to provide feedback.

As a thank you, we will give away copies of my latest book, I Will, to 20 random entries. So, let us know what you think about my next book and you might just win a copy of my latest book.

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What (Some) Church Members Really Mean When They Say They Want Their Church to Grow

I heard it again just a week ago.

And I bet I’ve heard it nearly a thousand times.

“The search committee,” the pastor began, “said they really wanted the church to grow. Now I am leading them to do some things to reach people, and those same people are out to get me.”

You will rarely find a church member who says he or she is not for growth in the church. But many church members have unspoken, perhaps unknown, conditions attached to the statement. In other words, I am all for growth in the church unless it impacts me in some way.

Let’s look at seven of those “unless” conditions:

I really want to see growth in our church . . .

Unless we have to change the worship style.
Unless we have to add more worship services.
Unless I lose my parking spot and my seat in the worship center.
Unless the new people who come to our church look differently than we do; dress differently than we do; or speak differently than we do.
Unless we have to spend a lot of money on “those” people.
Unless the new people mess up my current fellowship circles and groups.
Unless we have to change the facilities in any way to accommodate the growth.

For certain, not all church members have such attitudes. Similarly, don’t assume those church members who act enthusiastically about potential growth have really considered the consequences. Stated simply, reaching people with the gospel always has a cost.

Unfortunately, many church members do not want to pay that cost.

Let me hear about your perspectives and experiences regarding this issue.

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When You Have to Let a Staff Member Go – Rainer on Leadership #175

Podcast Episode #175

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In a recent post, I discussed one of the more difficult aspects of church leadership—having to fire a staff member. Some readers took issue with the post, especially point #2. So today we discuss that post and further explain the why and the how of having to let a staff member go.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

If there is a staff member out of alignment with the rest of the leadership, it can hurt the ministry of the church.
When hiring and firing, you need to consider competency, culture, character, and chemistry.
Some of the dumbest mistakes made when firing someone are made when you don;t get enough input.
When discussing performance issues with staff, always document insufficiencies.
No staff member should ever be surprised if they are let go. You should make multiple documented efforts to correct issues before reaching that point.
It’s always easier to get a job if you have a job.
It’s always better to encourage someone to find another position while they are still employed than to just cut them loose.

The six principles to remember when you have to let a staff member go are:

Pray about it fervently.
Make certain the “bad fit” was real.
Seek input from others.
Go through due process.
Show compassion.
Try to anticipate unintended consequences.

Episode Sponsors

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is a dynamic community of learners who are serious about ministry preparation biblical studies theological reflection and cultural engagement. Their faculty are gifted men and women who minister as much through research and writing as through local church involvement but their primary ministry is teaching and caring for students. Find out more about TEDS at Divinity.TIU.edu.

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church. Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of I Will.

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Six Reasons Why Longer-tenured Pastorates Are Better

“I wish I had stayed.”

I’ve heard that sentence from many pastors. Given the perspective of several years, they wish that had not left a church as soon as they did. Indeed, I was one of those pastors.

For certain, there will be times that pastors should move on after only a few years at a given church. This post does not apply to all pastors.

And other pastors can’t help their short tenure because they were forced out of their churches. In some cases, they were appointed to another church by a judicatory authority.

But this post is about the rest of them.

The more research I do and the more I hear from pastors, the more I am convinced. As a rule, longer-tenured pastorates are better. Let me share six of the main reasons.

Our research continues to show a strong correlation to pastoral tenure and church health. Of course, correlation is not the same as causation. Nevertheless, the evidence is strong, if not overwhelming, in favor of long tenure.
The breakout years of pastoral tenure typically begin after years 5 to 7. In other words, the best years of a pastor’s tenure, both for the pastor and the church, do not begin until at least five years have passed. Unfortunately, the majority of pastors in America do not stay at a church for five or more years.
Relationships take time, particularly in church leadership. Keep this perspective in mind. When pastors begin ministry in a church, they are the newest people at their respective churches. Relationships are already established among the members. That is why I’ve heard from many church members that a pastor did not seem like “their pastor” until about five years passed.
Nearly nine out of ten churches in America are in need of turnaround leadership. Turnaround leadership is most often methodical and incremental. It can’t be accomplished in just a few years.
Community relationships and impact take time as well. In most communities, pastors are not considered a part of the locality until they have been there at least five years. A church, to be effective, must have a positive presence in the community led by an accepted pastor.
Pastors and churches will have had time to go through a crisis or conflict. The typical period for significant conflict is in years 2 to 4. The longer the pastorate, the greater the likelihood that the church and the pastor have gotten to the other side of the conflict.

The issue of pastoral tenure has so many implications. This brief post touches upon just a few of them. I look forward to hearing your perspectives on this important matter.

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Pray for Resonate Church

Location: Indianapolis, Indiana

Pastor: Davey Blackburn

Weekly Worship: 10:15, Eastern

Fast Facts: Tragedy struck Resonate Church earlier this week when Pastor Davey Blackburn’s pregnant wife, Amanda, was shot and killed in her home by an unknown assailant. Please pray for the Blackburn family and Resonate Church in the wake of this tragic event.

Website: ResonateIndianapolis.com

“Pray for . . .” is the Sunday blog series at ThomRainer.com. We encourage you to pray for these churches noted every Sunday. Please feel free to comment that you are praying as well.

If you would like to have your church featured in the “Pray for…” series, fill out this information form..

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Notable Voices: November 14, 2015

3 Questions Every Organization Must Answer — Art Rainer

This simple assessment can be used by any church, business, school, or civic group. You need to know the answer to these three questions, or your organization could drift aimlessly without fulfilling its intended purpose.

 

Pastor, You Might Have CIA Agents in Your Church! — Matt Capps

It’s uncanny how this list from the CIA’s “Simple Sabotage Field Manual“ fits so many churches. If you have church business meetings, you will recognize these tactics.

 

Three Ways to Kill Revitalization in Your Church — Rob Hurtgen

I’ve written several pieces and even released a webinar recently on Church Revitalization. Rob’s article is a great reminder of how easy it can be to kill a revitalization effort.

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Underprogram Your Church — Jared Wilson

In an odd sense of timing, Jared released this article the same day I wrote a post on Five Problems with Church Programs.

 

Ten Diagnostic Questions for Your Marriage — Kevin DeYoung

These questions would be a great exercise for any couple regardless of how long you’ve been married.

 

Five Secrets To Getting Church Guests To Return Cards — Church Answers

On this week’s episode of Church Answers Live, I discussed how you can get guests to turn in their guest cards more often and how a simplified information card is the key to making that happen. Don’t forget to join us every Thursday at 3:00 PM Eastern for Church Answers Live.

 

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Are You Leadership Material? – Rainer on Leadership #174

Podcast Episode #174

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On today’s episode, we discuss a recent post by Chuck Lawless on Christian leadership. Dr. Lawless provided nine introspective questions to determine if one is truly a Christian leader.

Some highlights from today’s episode include:

Does who you are in private match who you are in public?
We are often uncomfortable changing the status quo because sometimes the status quo provides our paycheck.
Great leaders are always looking beyond the present and to the future.
Great leaders are always trying to develop those whom they lead.
Positional authority is not always the same thing as real leadership.
If you see people as God sees them, you will invest time in them.

The nine questions you can ask yourself to determine whether or not you are a leader are:

If others knew my life intimately, would they want to follow me?
Am I uncomfortable with the status quo?
Do I have a picture of a bright future?
Do I see people as God’s gift or as a means to an end?
Is anyone following me?
Am I investing in anyone personally?
If I leave, will the ministry carry on well?
Am I continuing to learn?
Am I accountable to somebody for my godliness?

Episode Sponsors

Vanderbloemen Search Group is the premier pastor search firm dedicated to helping churches and ministries build great teams. They’ve helped hundreds of churches just like yours find their church staff and are uniquely geared to help you discern who God is calling to lead your church. Find out more about Vanderbloemen Search Group by visiting WeStaffTheChurch.com.

Trinity Evangelical Divinity School is a dynamic community of learners who are serious about ministry preparation biblical studies theological reflection and cultural engagement. Their faculty are gifted men and women who minister as much through research and writing as through local church involvement but their primary ministry is teaching and caring for students. Find out more about TEDS at Divinity.TIU.edu.

Feedback

If you have a question you would like answered on the show, fill out the form on the podcast page here at ThomRainer.com. If we use your question, you’ll receive a free copy of I Will.

Resources

9 Questions to Determine if You’re a Christian Leader
Be Humble. Stay Hungry. Always Hustle. – Podcast Episode with Brad Lomenick
Harvard Business Review
Henry French Dunks over David Dockery

What a great night with the @TIUBasketball_M tonight! #MadhouseAtMeyer #winningdunk #dunkoverpresident #since1897 pic.twitter.com/2oe68kY9YG

— Trinity Admissions (@tiuadmissions) October 21, 2015

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12 Benefits Your Church Might Provide Your Pastors

By Chuck Lawless

My seminary students occasionally ask me about whether a “pay package” a church offers them is adequate. I can’t always answer that question easily because I don’t know the church’s financial state. What I do know is what I believe a church ought to provide for its pastors. Your church may not be in a position to offer all these benefits, but perhaps you could work toward providing them:

Housing allowance. In my judgment, the pastor’s salary and housing allowance should be considered the pastor’s “base package.” The salary, of course, is assumed, and a housing allowance is a designated portion of the pastor’s salary that allows for tax benefits. Make sure your pastor is aware of this opportunity.
Self-employment tax offset. If your pastor pays self-employment taxes, your church should consider providing additional funds that cover the portion they would have to pay if the pastor were classified as an employee. Tax rules still require your pastor to count the dollars as income, but the additional funds toward those costs will be helpful.
Health, disability, and life insurance coverage. I encourage churches to provide full family coverage for health insurance, but do cover at least the pastor’s premiums. Likewise, the pastor may want more disability and life insurance coverage than the church offers, but do offer at least some level of insurance.
Mileage reimbursement. Many pastors travel a lot by car. They should not be forced to pay out of their own pockets for business-related travel.
Retirement funds. Even if your pastors are young, help them think about the future by contributing to a retirement fund for them. Even a few dollars per month can pay off in the long run.
Book and resource allowance. If you want your pastors to continue to study and grow, provide resources for them to do so. They might exceed whatever allowance you provide, but help cover some of these costs.
Travel allowance. Your pastors may want to attend training conferences or denominational meetings that take place out of town. Make that possible by providing a travel budget.
Continuing education funds. I trust you want your pastors to be the best-equipped leaders. If so, offering funds toward further training (whether via attending conferences or working toward an accredited degree) will encourage them to get that training.
Entertainment and fellowship funds. If pastors take only one family per month to dinner, the costs still add up if they are paying out of their own funds. The church should cover the cost of entertainment and fellowship that intentionally promote the church’s ministry.
Phone coverage. Many pastors use their cell phones recurrently during the week to do church “business.” Consider providing at least a portion of these costs.
Time off. Give your pastors a weekly day off and significant time for vacation (e.g., 3-4 weeks per year). Hold them accountable to get the rest and relaxation they deserve and need.
Sabbatical time. At least every 6-7 years, give your pastor a one-month paid sabbatical. I’ve written elsewhere about the benefits of a pastoral sabbatical, but I re-state my summary here: hard-working pastors can use the sabbatical to prepare for many more years of effective ministry.

What would you add or omit from this list?

Be sure to check out Dr. Lawless’ daily blog posts at www.chucklawless.com. Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook.

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Twenty Five Silly Things Church Members Fight Over

It began as an innocuous Twitter survey. But then it blew up.

A lot of church members and leaders were eager to share about fights, schisms, and conflicts in their congregations. They were likewise eager to point out the absurdity of these issues. There were the ones we’ve heard often: temperature in the worship center, color of carpet, order of worship, and color of walls.

The fights shown below, however, are a bit unusual. Indeed, most of them are downright absurd. I picked 25 of my “favorites.” They are listed in no particular order. The parenthetical commentary is my own.

Argument over the appropriate length of the worship pastor’s beard (I think I saw a verse in Scripture that indicated it is to be no more than 1.5 inches longer than the pastor’s beard.).
Fight over whether or not to build a children’s playground or to use the land for a cemetery (I’m dying to know the resolution of this one.).
A deacon accusing another deacon of sending an anonymous letter, and deciding to settle the matter in the parking lot (The church could have sold tickets to this event and raised a lot of money.).
A church dispute of whether or not to install restroom stall dividers in the women’s restroom (I’m calling unfair on this one. The men should have their stall dividers too.).
A church argument and vote to decide if a clock in the worship center should be removed (I think this one is a timely argument.).
A 45-minute heated argument over the type of filing cabinet to purchase: black or brown; 2, 3, or 4 drawers (This one is an official cabinet meeting of the church leadership.).
A fight over which picture of Jesus to put in the foyer (I just want to know who took the pictures.).
A petition to have all church staff clean shaven (No church planters are allowed.).
A dispute over whether the worship leader should have his shoes on during the service (I vote for shoes, shirts, and pants.).
A big church argument over the discovery that the church budget was off $0.10. Someone finally gave a dime to settle the issue (I have to admit this issue is ten times more important than the church missing a penny.).
A dispute in the church because the Lord’s Supper had cran/grape juice instead of grape juice (Of course it should be grape juice. It’s right there in Hezekiah 4:11.).
Business meeting arguments about whether the church should purchase a weed eater or not. It took two business meetings to resolve (Wow. This fight was really whacky.).
Arguments over what type of green beans the church should serve (I could have resolved this conflict quickly: none.).
Two different churches reported fights over the type of coffee. In one of the churches, they moved from Folgers to a stronger Starbucks brand. In the other church, they simply moved to a stronger blend. Members left the church in the latter example (Perhaps they started a new church: The Right Blend Fellowship.).
Major conflict when the youth borrowed a crockpot that had not been used for years (I bet it was a bunch of crocky old adults.).
An argument on whether the church should allow deviled eggs at the church meal (Only if it’s balanced with angel food cake for dessert).
An argument over who has the authority to buy postage stamps for the church (The members were licking their wounds over this issue.).
A disagreement over using the term “potluck” instead of “pot blessing” (I get it! The concept of luck contradicts the theology of a sovereign God. This issue is very serious. Good luck trying to resolve it. ).
A church member was chastised because she brought vanilla syrup to the coffee server. It looked too much like liquor. (Beth Moore confessed she was the culprit who brought the syrup. Don’t you know, Beth, we Baptists cannot have vanilla syrup at anytime? Chocolate is fine though.).
An argument in church over who has access to the copy machine (I think a calendar should be made where every church member has at least five minutes access to the copy machine each year. You can have a business meeting to vote on each five-minute increment.).
Some church members left the church because one church member hid the vacuum cleaner from them. It resulted in a major fight and split (Thus the Second Electrolux Church was born.).
An argument over whether to have gluten-free communion bread or not (I thought gluteny was a sin.).
A dispute over whether the church should allow people to wear black t-shirts, since black is the color of the devil (Are you sure he’s not red? That’s what I’ve heard.)
A fight over whether or not to sing “Happy Birthday” each week (I’ve got an idea. Alternate it with the doxology.).
An argument over whether the fake, dusty plants should be removed from the podium (Just give them a little water. They should be fine.).

Yes. These issues are silly; many are absurd. But they are all distractions from what we should be doing in our churches. In that sense, they are really great distractions from the Great Commission.

Let me hear your stories!

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