My past church laid me off giving me the reason totally because of the “economy”. No severance and no unemployment after 5 years of service there (an additional 15 elsewhere) and after moving us cross country. Getting laid off stinks, but being told to not to attend there anymore in that “house of God” was absolutely stupid. What really hurt was we could afford the house we bought at the time (very affordable), but with almost 18% unemployment in the area there, and not able to find work locally in time, we lost our house as well. I’m somewhat amazed they didn’t offer to go fulltime to parttime (which would have worked), or everyone on staff considering a slight paycut. Instead, as soon as I left the Sr Pastor increased his salary by $30k. Go figure....my town is not the only area affected either. My story is too common righ now in these times.

btw, the same church now is in serious debt and more staff are on the chopping block. I don’t blame it on the economy. I blame it on irresponsible people making poor decisions. Worldview calls is greed. Godview calls is non-accountability.

*note - We’re now being considered by a number of churches out of state. God always seems to work things out, doesn’t He? That trust thing works people!

What do I think?  I think that churches that do not pay into unemployment are being penny-wise and pound foolish.  It’s hard enough for a church which is “supposed” to care for people to lay off staff without the added burden of not having provided a safety net for them.

Yep, I got laid off in November.  The church helped with 4 months of severance/with full benefits and gave me a 30 day notice leading up to the day of termination...so I can’t complain, the church and leadership treated me with honor and cared for my family.

But I did learn a lot about facing transition.  Yes, it was an eye opener for me and for the church, when I found out that I wouldn’t be eligible for unemployment benefits.  Also, the big challenge for people in the church world, is that it takes longer to find another position within a church.  Churches usually take longer in their hiring process.

Also, the other issue when let go from a church is that it isn’t like losing just another job.  If I was in the marketplace, except for feeling the loss of income, my family wouldn’t feel deeply or be deeply impacted if I moved from one employer to another.  But in a church, especially having been a pastor, my whole family was a part of where I “worked”.  My wife was involved in ministry and serving.  My kids were involved in the youth ministry...in a church it isn’t about just cleaning out an office - it affects the family because the family is integrated in the church.  One’s work and family are significantly integrated.

These are tough times, and I have had other minister friends loose their jobs as well.  I have learned a lot of new skills during this transition and I also now experience a deep compassion for many of my neighbors and friends going through this as well.

The good news for me is that God provided a ministry opportunity starting the very next day my severance ended...and I’ve been able to see God’s hand in it all...believing that God had to dynamite and launch me out of my asst, pastor ministry position in order to lead and place me in this new opportunity - which is a great opportunity.

But I could have never discovered this new opportunity that God wanted for me unless I was laid off.