Pastor Reaches the End of His Rope… Why Does This Always Happen?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Tue, July 26, 2005
- Viewed 558
- (36) comments so far
(i'll highlight some of the things I found interesting.
PASADENA -- Gordon Kirk, senior pastor of Lake Avenue Church, shocked members of his huge congregation when he resigned last weekend, citing "personal character attacks' and disrespect for his leadership from a vocal minority in the church.
Kirk delivered his formal resignation last Wednesday to the ministry council, the body that guides the 4,000-member congregation. The ministry council includes Kirk and other pastors and about a dozen elected members of the congregation.
Kirk's resignation was not publicly announced until it was read via a letter at the end of services Saturday and Sunday.
"During the last year there has been a spirit of dissonance among a vocal few regarding the vision for Lake's future,' said the letter, which was read Sunday morning by Executive Pastor Chuck Olson. The extent of the disagreement has "polarized and paralyzed the ministry council,' Kirk wrote in the letter.
Kirk has been at Lake Avenue since 1991. He said in his letter that his decision came after weeks of extensive prayer and sleepless nights during which God made it clear that his season at influential, evangelical Lake Avenue had come to a close.
"It is an understatement to say this is sad news,' Olson said after reading the letter. "Personally, I grieve deeply for this loss.'
After the service, church attendees said they were shocked, deeply saddened and confused by the announcement and letter.
"We are heartbroken,' said Harshal Vyas, 59, who has attended the church for about five years with his wife Sukirti. "We don't know the reason, but there are no words to explain it.'
Jane Harriman of Altadena said she's attended Lake Avenue for about a year. Kirk really teaches God's word, she said.
"I know people are going to be very sad and upset and hurt because he is such a good preacher,' Harriman said.
Pastors at the church declined to comment for this story. Kirk said a press release would be the extent of his comment on the resignation. The press release said he was committed to God's "big picture' plan that is "often 'unfathomable' from our limited perspective.'
Bill Podley, chair of the ministry council, said the resignation was a shock.
"I love Gordon. We love Gordon. The board loves Gordon,' Podley said. "This is a very sad day for us all. This is not what we wanted as a council. It's not what we had, in any way, hoped for.'
Podley said some long-standing members of the 109-year-old church felt they were not being involved in the future direction of the congregation. In the past because of the church's Congregational roots a broader cross-section of members was involved in decision making, strategy and direction, he said.
"As we've grown, it's been Gordon's belief, and the council's understanding as well, that you can't have as much input from as many people,' Podley said.
Podley said the ministry council is not polarized or paralyzed. There are various points of view regarding the congregation's involvement in implementing the church's vision, he said. The ministry council wanted to continue working together on areas of concern, he said.
As for the alleged personal character attacks, Kirk is a strong and passionate leader who believed in the direction he was taking the church, Podley said. There were times when discussions got emotional and people disagreed in ways that might have been construed as personal attacks, he said. But it seemed that no one intentionally wanted to attack him, Podley said.
The ministry council discussed a number of issues at a mid- June meeting, and then Kirk had a study leave planned for the first two weeks of July, Podley said. When Kirk came back, he said he wanted to have the meeting with the council. There, he resigned, he said.
Kirk takes his vacation every year in August, and will come back for a farewell weekend in September, Podley said.
Ministry council member Lori Johnson agreed with Podley's assessment of the situation. Kirk's resignation "was truly by his choice and that's why we were all shocked,' she said.
Everyone on the ministry council loves Kirk and tried to work with him in a spirit of unity, Johnson said.
"I think the words 'paralyzed and polarized' were pretty strong,' Johnson said. "I would not use those words to describe our council.'
Just some initial thoughts based on this article (and this article only). These might be observations true to the situation or not:
1. If a council cannot make a decision in a year on direction, I would think that 'paralyzed and polarized' might be words I would use.
2. "There were times when discussions got emotional and people disagreed in ways that might have been construed as personal attacks." Usually, when someone has to use the word 'construed' then there is usually some truth to it. "No one intentionally wanted to attack him". Key word there is "intentionally"
3. "Kirk's resignation "was truly by his choice and that's why we were all shocked." Does this sound to anyone else like another way to say "we're shocked he left before we fired him."?
4. "Everyone on the ministry council loves Kirk and tried to work with him in a spirit of unity." We love you, pastor... but you need to do what we ask. (I may be totally wrong here; but it's been my experience that boards/councils very seldom work with a 'spirit of unity'... hopefully this was the exception to the rule.
5. I'm suprised that everyone was so 'shocked'. Sometimes I think some church boards kind of get a kick out of fighting. Individuals get to express their own way; make their power plays, etc. And for some, I think they find it fun... almost amusing. But for the pastor, it's not fun and games... it's his life/ministry/livelihood. No one should be shocked when a pastor has problems dealing with a board he feels is ''paralyzed and polarized'. Most pastors either will get fed up and leave because of the conflict; or get fed up and leave because of the lack of decision making and the status-quo.
OK... I'm stepping down off my soapbox. It just doesn't seem like it should be that hard for churches, pastors, boards, councils, parishoners, and staff members to get along.
But somehow... it is.
Please add your two cents worth to the comments I've made here...
Todd
Why does this happen all the time in the church? Bickering, people taking sides, playing meanly, manipulating the facts, acting un-Christlike? It takes its toll on everyone; and it hurts people and churches everyday. Pastors take the brunt of much of the conflict (and sometimes pastors actually cause the conflict). But what really got me about this ‘version’ of the story (I really have no idea what the situation was or who was right) was that everyone appeared so shocked that the conflict had finally taken a toll. Give a quick read to this story from the Pasadena Star News and let me know what you think…
Comments
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Rich Viel on Tue, July 26, 2005
Todd,
Sometimes you amaze me. It take a lot of courage to open up discussions on topics like this.
I’ve seen or experienced everything in your commments and I think you’re right on. I would make one addition to the fifth comment: “Most pastors either will get fed up and leave because of the conflict; or get fed up and leave because of the lack of decision making and the status-quo.” Sometimes I think some of us faced with this type of situation stay too long hoping to somehow get the church “unstuck” (by nature we pastors tend to be a hardheaded lot). This rarely works and then we do end up getting fired. I applaud Pastor Kirk’s wisdom in recognizing it was his time to move on before it got to that point.
Tim on Tue, July 26, 2005
I agree with your assessment Todd. Carrying the scars from a conflicted leadership board and small group of church members, I am not surprised by Gordon’s resignation.
Church board and relational gridlock comes in many different ways. A leader must weigh how much they can take emtionally and what the realities are for change. Like Gordon I recognized the deadend.
In my case board members continued to give “care” to discharged, highly disgruntled employees, they provide long-term “counsel” to conflicted people that left the church, spoke positively of me to my face but would by passive-aggressive action conduct all kinds of behavior contrary to requests I gave them. The “power lunch” where two of them wanted to “just share their hearts on some church concerns” revealed their true colors. My time was up at the church.
Yes people said they were shocked - but most smiled and kindly led me and my family to the door. A host of people returned after we left and quickly voted in another pastor. I have a long string of ministry successes and a post-graduate degree. Congregational leadership can freeze out pastoral leadership in many ways. I was in denial that I could “draw the number” and be a victim as well. I’ll pray for Gordon Kirk - there is yet a future for him if he’ll touch God, heal, learn, and move on. I’m a testimony to the fact.
Bart on Tue, July 26, 2005
I agree with all of your insights todd, but how about this one. “The press release said he was committed to God’s “big picture’ plan that is “often ‘unfathomable’ from our limited perspective.’” I read that as “I know Gods big plan and you don’t”. Could it be that the vision of the church or direction it was going was Kirks and not the church’s? I have seen new pastors have a vision for the church before they are even hired. How can you have a vision when you don’t even know where the church is, or what it needs, or what gifts and talents are available. OK I’ll get off my soapbox now. Great article! Thanks Todd
BeHim on Tue, July 26, 2005
[OK… I’m stepping down off my soapbox. It just doesn’t seem like it should be that hard for churches, pastors, boards, councils, parishoners, and staff members to get along.
But somehow… it is.]
It just seems like this is becoming more and more of an issue doesn’t it?
How could the same Spirit cause such division? It’s almost as if there are two spirits at work yet they both “say” they are of the same Spirit. I wonder if they used Scripture to determine which spirit was at work and which one was identifiably against Scripture?
Maybe the church, pastor, board, council, parishoner and staff member need to know and understand how Scripture applies in each situation and solution. The unity should revolve around Scripture.
This would solve allot, don’t you think?
Just my “two cents”
Todd Rhoades on Tue, July 26, 2005
Bart,
Very well could be… like I said, I don’t know the issues. The article does say that the pastor had been there for 15 years though… that’s quite a long time.
Todd
Todd Rhoades on Tue, July 26, 2005
BeHim wrote:
“It just seems like this is becoming more and more of an issue doesn’t it?”
No… not really. I’m a youngin’ (at age 40) but church was like this growing up; and has been for probably about as long as there is a church.
I guess my feeling would be the same, BeHim… the spirit should work the same thing in everyone to the same end.
These things, unfortunately are not always as cut and dry; yes and no; black and white; as we’d like them to be. Unfortunately, scripture isn’t always clear on musical style, leadership style, vision and direction. That’s not to say that God doesn’t have a plan.
Many times there are honest differences of opinions. Many other times there are people who only wish to exert or hang onto their power. Each situation is different… but you know my theme here, BeHim… it shouldn’t be that difficult to work through matters and get a long; and if that isn’t possible, to at least move on amicably.
Todd
dsurvivor on Tue, July 26, 2005
The pastor may have been burned out by continual stress and conflict. Sometimes a pastor may get really fixated on a vision or plan that may be what the church needs to mature and grow while the board is happy with the status quo. The manner of the pastor’s resignation was selfish. Rather than “I prayed about it…” shouldn’t it have been - “We have met and prayed and fasted about it…” I was in a church where the pastor was so strongly attached to his vision that he initated a church split, maintained a simple majority, and the church that remained did grow. Was it God’s vision? Maybe. I’m also mindful of the seven letters in Revelation 2 & 3 where the Lord threatens to remove the angels (pastors?) from some of the churches which indicates to me that the leadership had the vision but the churches did not? Just my thoughts.
Geoff Surratt on Tue, July 26, 2005
I recently heard a good analogy. Imagine a medical practice run by a board made up of a pastor, a plumber, an electrician and a school teacher. They decide how diseases should be treated, what equipment should be purchased, what treatment plans should be implemented. This group is selected by the patients and is expected to respect their wishes. The doctor’s role is to carry out the plans as formulated by the board.
I’m not sure that would be my choice of medical practice, but we run churches that way every day. I don’t know why this pastor left this church, but I imagine he just gave up trying to steer a car with 4000 other people in the drivers seat.
Don Solin on Tue, July 26, 2005
sadly to say… sounds like the guy just had enough period. It does sound like many, include me, that have had it with what I would call—the please all the people all of the time old way—which we all know was the way we saw pastors 20 years ago. You know, the guy doing it all, keeping everybody happy and preaching great sermons—that is what they did. Oh and visit everybody in the church. Then, the new “type” of CEO pastor comes along—via the board and is told the he can almost have carte blanche at new vision, when in truth, there is no way the pastor is going to over come the hurdle of moving from the old to the new… no way. The old blood still wants a piece of the action, they still want things done the way it :used” to be done. The new model will not work… in that setting. Oh they say they want new vision and all that jazz—forget about it. More fires pop up—and the new pastor is not about to go put them out like the old time pastor. That is not his job anymore… he is the CEO. The fires are for the underlings—- but that won’t work. The model of the mega and all the models out there have contributed to the reality—-
that the leader is still the hired guy, and that role had better be defined in each church as they go—the people need to be re educated—or go back and read the authors of books on pastoral theology and find out how far, or how different the views on this have come. I would rather stop playing the game of having one foot in the old—(the shepherd) and one foot in the new (the CEO)—leave those and develop the more adequate role. That I beleive is the future discussion.
My penny.
JMH on Tue, July 26, 2005
dsurvivor: actually the Lord threatened to remove the candlestick (church), not the star (angel or messenger). Rev. 1:20
The scripture that might aid us in a time of conflict in decision making in the church: obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves. Hebrews 13:17
Just as in the home, the husband is divinely given this power (or should I say burden).
If in either of these cases, the one in authority were leading into areas of overt sin, then we must obey God, not man. Yet if all areas of conflict resolution fail, and the ordained leader feels it’s time to make a decision, then those under his authority should yield. Trusting God will dictate the outcome for His glory, as we follow His prescribed method, even when our leaders don’t do things as we would have done in their shoes.
The bottom line might be “who is leader in the church?” It should be Christ speaking through His Spirit-anointed spokesman.
How quickly we proclaim, “God has called brother So & So to our church,” and when his decisions detour from our expectations, we feel as if we might be better off without him.
Submission to authority of all kinds seems to be a major obstacle to our modern society.
Don Solin on Tue, July 26, 2005
Hey dsurvivor—or JMH—
Maybe you or I believe—that there is authority in the position. That went away along time ago. Maybe from the pastors that threw authority around, maybe from its abuse, but that view is long gone. Unless of course you talk to the grey hairs… but then, they have their own issues. Again, we have a new kid on the block and he is for churches that are bigger than the ones that still see the pastor as the shepherd—he is now the CEO period. If the corporation isn’t cutting it, if the stock holders are unhappy… well, heads will roll. That is what is happening. Call it what you will—we are Americans man, you know, we stand on the declaration of Independence—“life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…” That is what we have become… perusing our agendas and our happiness and if the paid guy isn’t making us happy… well, they’ll make him unhappy, so they can get happy. I’m sorry, but the upheaval is all over the place… look at the emergent movement—look at the guys leaving—- the church and its dynamic of reaching people has turned into reaching the unhappy other pew sitters at some other joint—bring them over here and on and on and on….
Don
Kevin White on Tue, July 26, 2005
As I read these comments I am even more convinced that the church is not the place for the man of God.
I was contemplating whether or not to go to seminary and pursue my call to the ministry. In my own church I have seen and continue to watch these struggles with vision and power. My hope was that this was not an epidemic but the comments sound so familiar.
Where is a man of God to go?
Don Solin on Tue, July 26, 2005
check out the country of Niger—Africa—-
famine going on there. Need people that care…Maybe a great place for a man of God.
You might find that ministry is not so much a vocation—maybe a lifestyle.
Maybe its not about lots of stuff it has become…. hmmmmm, maybe the man of God really isn’t supposed to be all polished and together… maybe the man of God leads the way to the impoverished, the least of these.
M.A.P. on Tue, July 26, 2005
As I read these comments my heart is heavy. I am young (38) but having been raised in church all of my life I have seen the gradual loss of authority that the pastor has. This is very troubling as it opens the door to a watered down pulpit, weakened standards of truth, etc., etc.
There must come a restoration of apostolic authority to the pulpit in order for us to see a Book of Acts revival in 2005. You don’t find Peter having a board meeting with John before ministering to lame man at gate Beautiful to see if it fit their mission statement. No, he followed the leading of the Spirit and acted upon the authority that he had.
Scott McMurrian on Wed, July 27, 2005
I’ve been watching the blog for several months and am just now led to respond the woman’s statement about trying to work “in a spirit of unity.”
I wonder what was so hard about it…maybe it was suggested properly above that unity means “you just do what I want.” It is very difficult to discuss vision when statements begin with “I…”
I have sat in Bible studies at a church that was going through 3 very angry lawsuits and a confusing thing happened - both sides would interpret the same scripture to support their stance. There is usually a right solution and direction, but that’s not the heart of the need, is it?
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