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Today’s Buzz:  99.5% of Pastors are Losers; Religious Fraud; and Free Big Idea Webinar Tomorrow!

Scandals, Fraud, and Losers. Sounds encouraging, doesn't it? Especially for a Monday morning. But really... here are some stories and links that you really should check out... one involves the trust in pastoral leaders; another on why pastors change churches; and a free opportunity for you to talk with the authors of the "Big Idea" Book for a free webinar tomorrow!

Pastor Scandals Erode Trust in Pulpit
That’s the title of an article here in the News-Journal Online.  My first response was, “Duh”.  But there are some interesting quotes… like this:  “The most corrupt clergy are extremely charismatic, charming and convincing,” said David Clohessy, the national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests and other clergy (SNAP).  (I would agree with that).  And this one:  “Most people can’t believe they’re capable of doing anything wrong,” he said. “In every denomination, the instinct is to believe it doesn’t happen and it doesn’t get covered up.” (I really agree with this one… Every time a pastor falls, it pushes some people farther away from God.  And I think that’s one of the reasons that the first inclination of church leadership many times is to push things under the rug (which is even a worse response than being honest).  What do you think?  Is it ever right to hide pastoral failure to save face?

99.5% of Pastors Looking for Work are Losers
Well… here’s the actual quote from church consultant Paul Borden:  “Now, you’ve got to realize, 99.5% of them [pastors] are losers, because they’re all looking for a job.” Now, here’s the context. What do you think? (I have an opinion… but I’d love to hear yours first!)

Religious Fraud is Skyrocketing
Between 1984 and 1989, about $450 million was stolen in religion-related scams, according to the North American Securities Administrators Association. In its latest count – from 1998 to 2001 – the toll had risen to $2 billion. Rip-offs have only become more common since.  More here... Have you ever had someone try to scam you or someone in your church with some type of religious gimmick?

This Debate Ain’t Goin’ Away Any Time Soon Folks...
Read the article One God, Two Takes on Gay Pride Fest here.

Pastor Outspoken on Tongues Resigns Seminary Post
Texas pastor Dwight McKissic, who has been at the center of a debate in the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) over speaking in tongues, has resigned his trustee position with Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS).  McKissic, the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Arlington, Texas, told the seminary’s trustee board chairman in a June 20 letter that his role as a trustee was a “huge distraction” from his ministry priorities.  More here...

Last Chance to Talk with Big Idea Authors
Join Leadership Network tomorrow, June 26 at 10:00 a.m. CST for an FREE online experience where you’ll have the opportunity to interact with the authors of The BIG IDEA: Dave Ferguson, Jon Ferguson and Eric Bramlett. Listen in and log on as they discuss the “Genius of the AND” and discover the benefits of creating The BIG IDEA in your own context.  Here’s the registration link for the FREE webinar: https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/553466341 I’d really encourage you to join me and many other leaders on this call… I’m sure it’s going to be great!

Have a great week!

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This post has been viewed 1460 times and was added on June 25, 2007 by Todd Rhoades.
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  There are 15 Comments:
  • Posted by

    - “99.5% of Pastors looking for work are losers” - I’m pretty sure that this is not the kindest, or even truest way of characterizing pastors who are looking for work. However, having recently served on a search team in a different denom, my experience was that many (certainly not all) who were looking for work did not have what we as a growing congregation were looking for.  On the other hand, we also talked with pastors who had been truly broken by their congregations, and it was sad indeed to see the hurt and pain in these godly leaders who truly wanted to advance the Kingdom.

    - “Gay Pride Fest” - Using bullhorns and picket signs to scream at people that they are sinners headed straight for hell is not an effective way to preach the Gospel, especially when those people are participating in an event showing their support for the behavior that you’re condemning.  This is just an unloving and downright stupid thing to do.  On the other hand, marching with them to show support for that behavior is just as bad, because it shows them no hope—no need, even—for repentance.

    -"Pastor Outspoken on Tongues Resigns Seminary Post” - I’m not a member of the SBC, so maybe I have no business commenting here, but I still think that making the issue of speaking in a private prayer language a major source for division is stupid and does nothing to advance the Kingdom.

    Well, those are my completely unbiased, perhaps poorly-informed thoughts. smile

    Nora

  • Posted by Stewart

    On the 99.5% losers thing… I have thought Borden is interesting for a while. I highly recommend his books. His methodology has clearly worked in his region. But is it ethical? Todd’s link spells it out. He goes out and recruits the best pastors from all around to come to his region of the American Baptist Churches, they are very successful (as they were in the churches they were already in) and then says, “See, look what a brilliant regional head I am.”

    Of course it works. He’s taking people who’ve already proven they are the cream of the crop. His sells pitch is that in his region they actually get support; whereas, in most other ABC regions and other mainline denominations they get mostly opposition.

    The real trick would be to find pastors with potential and help a big percentage suceed in terms of numerical growth. Instead Borden specifically says he doesn’t do that… “I don’t hire potential, we are looking for a proven track record” (I made up the quote but it’s an accurate summary). So what is that really contributing to the overall health of the body of Christ?

    I also think (and I’m sure Borden would agree in his more thoughtful moments) that 99.5% is an exageration. And the word “loser” is just meant to provoke and prod. BUT in his defense, we wouldn’t be talking about it if he hadn’t used extreme language.

  • Posted by

    PASTOR SCANDALS: No, it’s never appropriate to hide pastoral failures.  Doing so gives permission to others to hide sin, which is exactly what perpetuates it and prevents accountability and restoration.  That said, I don’t think it’s necessary to fill in every blank a congregation might think they want or need.  Appropriate candor without spin, high grace with high accountability is what is called for.

    99.5% PASTORS LOSERS:  Interesting comments Stewart.  I agree with your comment about finding young pastors with potential and helping them connect in a context where their potential can flourish.  This seems much more kingdom minded that recruiting effective pastors away from a ministry that is growing, encouraging the possibility of a narcissistic view of growing ministry.  But how to surface those people, especially if they are in a place where their potential is being hindered.

    THE DEBATE . . . : These comments from the article: “We don’t consider ourselves protesters. We will do whatever we need to do to get the Gospel out” and “We’re there to preach the Gospel”

    Remind me of a thread from last week about Kirk Cameron.  I think it is a big problem when we reduce the wonder and width and depth of the gospel to nothing more than “repent you terrible sinner.”

    Wendi

  • Posted by Leonard

    having done 2 searches this past year for staff I am found about 70% to be under qualified for anything staff in our church.  of the 70% about 50% were not qualified for ministry vocationally.  They were not trained, educated, no experience and many were just looking to do anything in ministry.  Their track records were spotty at best, hopping from place to place every 6-10 months.  So over half of the people I interviews, spoke with and communicated with I would say should go get a different job and not try to work in the church. 

    Many people who are not in ministry think that they can just jump in and do it like any other job.  If you cannot articulate a clear call to ministry I will not hire you.  By the way, my executive administrator had o prior church experience but came with a clear call to ministry ad a great track record of competency in Leadership and administration. 

    my 2 cents

  • Posted by

    99.5% ... We are again looking for a Senior Pastor, second time in 3 years. We found someone who looked right sounded right, would be the face of our church. The man’s marriage was barely hanging on, he was only a pulpit pastor, and he had begun an affair while he was here. Our response… use the same methods we used last time, but this time he will be closely “handled”.
    Churches need the consulting, and the outside eye to honestly appraise the church before it seeks a pastor. We had 2 long term pastors, but have been a revolving door for the last 6 years. The church cannot decide who we are and where we are going.

  • Posted by

    wow 95.5% loosers.  I feel honored and at the same time, something just isn’t right about that statement.

  • Posted by

    "Jesus is for losers” --Steve Taylor

  • Posted by Camey

    Dr Bob… definitely praying for your church body there.

    And Don.... it is better to be a loser and know it - then to have won and don’t know what the prize truly is.

    Leonard? thankfully, what you have to say is better than what you type. wink

    I’ve heard McKissic more than once - the man is passionate to say the least.

  • Posted by

    I can’t spell, I must be a big time loser.  I’ll never make it in ministry.

  • Posted by Jan

    I think the loser issue is very sad.  We’re ALL losers in one way or another and thankfully we have grace that gets us through it, and God uses the weak and simple to accomplish great things for His glory in spite of us, even if we think we are successful.  Just the concept of who is a success and who is a loser in ministry bugs.

    That said, there are a lot of church hoppers out there. And there are a lot of churches out there frying good guys, who are even exceptionally gifted and trained.

    So, we now find pastors by taking them from other ministries?  I think that’s probably the worst way to find a leader.  And probably the best is to be training up leaders among us.

    And I have to say that we wouldn’t have gone back into ministry, if someone wasn’t willing to take a chance on a burned “loser”.

  • Posted by eric wright

    I may take some arrows for this, but here goes…

    I don’t think it is wrong to “recruit” people from successful ministries. The recruited person does not have to leave that position. Bordan’s job is to give his region the best pastors available. He is doing that by finding them. It is a business model, (like it or not the church is a business too), but he is doing two very common things 1. Getting the right people on the bus and 2. Recruiting from the people who are content in their jobs not the disgruntled.

    Is it wrong that 99.5% of pastors are losers? Yes and no. We are all losers. But I think the meaning behind his statement is in regards to the pastors qualifications and commitment to the local church. Too many pastors jump from church to church looking for the right place, and never realize that they are called to “make it work” where they are. They want to blame the people, the situation, etc. They lack the commitment to the local church needed to genuinely pastor it. The people who are genuinely looking and are ok people fit in the .5%.

    Granted, I do think he ought to find a way to invest in young leaders to help them develop. But he has to have stable and rooted churches in order for those people to develop.

  • Posted by Leonard

    Mi nother don, Im gonna quit

  • Posted by

    One last thing from one of the 95.5% When I first read the article I was a little heart broken at one persons view of people like me that are looking for ministry with 20 years of experience, leaving a church for the “right” reasons and learing to trust in God for His movement.  That being said, I am convinced that as long as the role of “Pastor” is a glorified CEO the power of God in leadership becomes dimminshed because “the man” becomes the focal point.  The other issue simply stated is this: How ironic to have an article about all the church shoppers when now recruiting from one church to another is the new standard.  No wonder people follow men around, follow needs being met, worship styles and all the wrong stuff.  Why think poorly of the people shopping around when leadership is no different?  Now leaders get shopped around like dog and pony shows.  Very interesting.  I’ll stay a loser and continue to go a differnet way even if it means church ministry may not come my way again.

  • Posted by

    You’re absolutely right; the debate is not going away.  Whatever side of the debate we’re each on, we should teach what we believe is correct and spread the Gospel, but model our actions on the love Jesus has for all of us.  What is going to further the Kingdom more, modeling your actions after Jesus Christ or modeling you action after Fred Phelps.

    And let’s be real, if you’re going out to other people’s events, unwelcome, with a sign and a bullhorn, you’re protesting.  And if you let yourself become so consumed by the issue that you’re going all around the country to protest at gay events, are you spreading the Gospel, or just your own brand of homophobia?

    Spread the Gospel, that’s what we’re about, but be honest about what is spreading the Gospel and what’s not.  Fred Phelps and Westboro Baptist say they’re just spreading the Gospel when they protest at the funerals of soldiers. Does anyone buy that?  That’s not spreading the Gospel, nor is it righteous, reasonable, or justifiable.  It doesn’t advance the Kingdom or further the cause of Christ, it just makes Christianity and the church look bad and gives more people a reason to say there’s those crazy Christians preaching their message of hate.

    The debate is not going away, but it can be kept in perspective and engaged with true Christian love.

  • Posted by

    Jesus IS a loser, he was homeless, he didn’t own anything not even a decent tunic, and in the end only one friend and few few women stood by him.

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