Why would a pastor get fired?

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jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#1
Jul 7, 2013
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#1
I ask because my Celebrate Recovery pastor has been terminated immediately of his position. It comes as a surprise because we were scheduled to have a CR meeting on Friday night at his place for all the new leaders. I understand if a pastor steals from the congregation or commits another type of crime. But, to my knowledge, he hasn't done anything that warranted an immediate fire like that. It throws the whole ministry in the air now.

It kind of baffles me how something can change so suddenly in just a matter of a day or 2. It kind of changes my perspective of the church. I didn't know the church could act like just another type of business. I thought the church wasn't a business.

So for anyone that has worked in a church, I ask what could get a pastor fired like that? I'm just talking of one in general, not necessarily the head pastor. By the way, CR has been greatly supported by the head pastor and the elders, so it's not like they hated the fact CR was taking place. It still baffles me, though. Any insight would be appreciated.
 
blue_ladybug

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
#2
Feb 21, 2014
70,869
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#2
He must have done something inappropriate/illicit/illegal, or he wouldn't have gotten fired. There has to be a legitimate reason to fire someone. And if he did something bad, then the elders aren't going to publicly air it. I don't know what CR is, but I assume it's a rehab program of some sort?
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#3
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
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#3
blue_ladybug said:
He must have done something inappropriate/illicit/illegal, or he wouldn't have gotten fired. There has to be a legitimate reason to fire someone. And if he did something bad, then the elders aren't going to publicly air it. I don't know what CR is, but I assume it's a rehab program of some sort?
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Similar to Alcoholic's Anonymous except it's Christ-based and isn't just for alcohol. In fact, only 20 percent of all of CR worldwide goes for just drugs and alcohol. People go for depression. Anxiety. food. Porn. Anger. Codependency. Basically if you're alive, you're struggling with something, and CR is for you. And that's what I thought but not sure what it could be. Something happened on Monday night, which is CR night. I wasn't there for it, but someone had an episode and interrupted one of the share groups. I don't think that warrants a termination, though, because CR has trained it's leaders what to do when that happens. Only thing I could thing of is if something happened to one of the kids, but again would have heard about it from one of the parents that take part of the ministry. Or maybe it was a money thing. I don't really know.
 
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Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#4
Jul 3, 2015
56,003
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#4
CR = Celebrate Recovery. It uses the 12 step model but has
all its own literature, and they even have their own Bible.
The recovery industry is big business.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#5
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
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#5
For the most part ,it is usually that there is a difference of theological or doctrinal interpretation. Most churches are very definitely "businesses", and the CEO (preacher) is not allowed to disagree with the board of directors (elders). To do so is to be immediately terminated.
 
D

Depleted

Guest
#6
#6
jsr1221 said:
I ask because my Celebrate Recovery pastor has been terminated immediately of his position. It comes as a surprise because we were scheduled to have a CR meeting on Friday night at his place for all the new leaders. I understand if a pastor steals from the congregation or commits another type of crime. But, to my knowledge, he hasn't done anything that warranted an immediate fire like that. It throws the whole ministry in the air now.

It kind of baffles me how something can change so suddenly in just a matter of a day or 2. It kind of changes my perspective of the church. I didn't know the church could act like just another type of business. I thought the church wasn't a business.

So for anyone that has worked in a church, I ask what could get a pastor fired like that? I'm just talking of one in general, not necessarily the head pastor. By the way, CR has been greatly supported by the head pastor and the elders, so it's not like they hated the fact CR was taking place. It still baffles me, though. Any insight would be appreciated.
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It depends on the denomination/nondenomination. Many can fire their pastor for any reason, including they just want someone else. Why not look up the by-laws of his denomination?
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#7
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
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#7
Willie-T said:
For the most part ,it is usually that there is a difference of theological or doctrinal interpretation. Most churches are very definitely "businesses", and the CEO (preacher) is not allowed to disagree with the board of directors (elders). To do so is to be immediately terminated.
Click to expand...
He had been there for 2 and a half years. If there were any disagreement about Scripture or theological principles, I would like to think it would have occurred at the beginning and would have been known prior to taking the job. If it's something like someone doesn't believe Jesus is God, then I understand. But if it's just little things in Scripture, I think that's a bit of an overreaction. No one will agree on everything, not even one's own congregation.
 
melita916

melita916

Senior Member
#8
Aug 12, 2011
10,418
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#8
i've seen pastors being fired due to immorality, theft, or coming up with crazy ideas and calling it doctrine.

is it possible to ask someone from the board? i mean.. you can ask. doesn't mean they'll answer.
 
Willie-T

Willie-T

Banned
#9
Feb 7, 2015
22,418
413
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#9
jsr1221 said:
He had been there for 2 and a half years. If there were any disagreement about Scripture or theological principles, I would like to think it would have occurred at the beginning and would have been known prior to taking the job. If it's something like someone doesn't believe Jesus is God, then I understand. But if it's just little things in Scripture, I think that's a bit of an overreaction. No one will agree on everything, not even one's own congregation.
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Well, I could be wrong. Wouldn't be the first time.
 
L

lastofall

Senior Member
#10
Aug 26, 2014
609
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#10
From what you've said you do not know why, so until you know why you ought not to speculate. As for being taken out of the position, the scripture defines that, which is the authority for such matter's.
 
N

NewWine

Guest
#11
#11
If it's not a "business" then is "fired" the right word to use? Eh Just my pondering is all. If he was indeed fired, then yes, that church must be run as a business.
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#12
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
77
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#12
melita916 said:
i've seen pastors being fired due to immorality, theft, or coming up with crazy ideas and calling it doctrine.

is it possible to ask someone from the board? i mean.. you can ask. doesn't mean they'll answer.
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Which would be understandable but I'm almost certain (can't say 100 percent, because all of us has the ability to stumble and do something like that) that's not the case in this situation.
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#13
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
77
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#13
NewWine said:
If it's not a "business" then is "fired" the right word to use? Eh Just my pondering is all. If he was indeed fired, then yes, that church must be run as a business.
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The word terminated was used in step study last night (he also led the step study I was in). He wasn't there last night, though, obviously.
 
Magenta

Magenta

Senior Member
#14
Jul 3, 2015
56,003
26,138
113
#14
jsr1221 said:
The word terminated was used in step study last night (he also led the step study I was in). He wasn't there last night, though, obviously.
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Terminated makes it sound so... fatal. :eek:
 
melita916

melita916

Senior Member
#15
Aug 12, 2011
10,418
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#15
jsr, do you think after everything is cleared out, the board will explain what happened? not in detail but something?
 
O

OwzK

Banned
#16
Jul 27, 2016
458
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#16
Did something illegal maybe?
 
M

MadParrotWoman

Guest
#18
#18
Given it's a rehab ministry...maybe he broke a confidence?
 
jsr1221

jsr1221

Senior Member
#19
Jul 7, 2013
4,265
77
48
#19
melita916 said:
jsr, do you think after everything is cleared out, the board will explain what happened? not in detail but something?
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I actually don't attend this church. Just go for it's CR ministry. The guy was also the worship pastor. So they might say something during their services. But I wouldn't know unless if I asked around CR. It kind of doesn't matter because ultimately it is none of our business. It doesn't stop the curiosity of wanting to know what happened, though. Ultimately, just pray for the church, the CR ministry, and him and his family.
 
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D

Depleted

Guest
#20
#20
jsr1221 said:
I actually don't attend this church. Just go for it's CR ministry. The guy was also the worship pastor. So they might say something during their services. But I wouldn't know unless if I asked around CR. It kind of doesn't matter because ultimately it is none of our business. It doesn't stop the curiosity of wanting to know what happened, though. Ultimately, just pray for the church, the CR ministry, and him and his family.
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If he's a friend, go to him. Why really doesn't matter. He sounds like he could use a friend though.

As Christians we tend to remember Matt. 18:15-17 very well, but forget to ask the next question.

"How do we treat Gentiles and tax collectors?" Considering the writer of that book was a tax collector, I think it's very significant for what we do next. Most of us wash our hands and move on. Jesus loved Matthew. He also loved the Gentiles. It was the religious people he had the toughest time with.

No matter what he did, he could use a friend.
 
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