What if Your Church Voted Yesterday Whether or Not to Keep You?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, September 21, 2009
- Viewed 154
- (67) comments so far
Well, this did happen at the famous Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. It seems a small group of people (included former pastor D. James Kennedy's daughter) were able to get more than enough Coral Ridge Members to sign a petition that called for a vote on whether or not to keep Kennedy's replacement, Pastor Tullian Tchividjian. The vote did not go their way. The congregation voted 940-422 to keep Tchividjian (who I think should at least get a new last name that I can spell... I mean... that's a worse name to spell than Groeschel).
According to the Miami Herald:
Tchividjian was named senior pastor of the Fort Lauderdale mega-church six months ago. He has come under scrutiny ever since he vowed to the set the church on a different path from that charted by his predecessor, D. James Kennedy, who built Coral Ridge into a religious and political powerhouse on a bedrock of Christian conservatism.
Church members cast ballots at a closed 11 a.m. meeting, and backed Tchividjian by a vote of 940-422, a margin of about 69 percent to 31 percent.
Tchividjian, 37, doesn't preach politics. He is more apt to focus on specific Biblical passages than on the news du jour, prefers drum sets to an organ, and has chosen podcasting over broadcasting.
His approach alarmed some members of the church, who preferred Kennedy's traditional services and his willingness to tackle topics such as same-sex marriage and abortion.
Six church members, including Kennedy's daughter, Jennifer Kennedy Cassidy, were banned from the premises in August after they distributed fliers criticizing the new pastor on church grounds.
By Sept. 9, more than 400 members had petitioned for Tchividjian's removal. A group of church elders then called for Sunday's meeting.
They brought in a member of the national governing body of Presbyterian churches to moderate the members-only meeting. Coral Ridge has about 2,000 active members.
Ten spoke for Tchividjian's removal, according to spokesman Mark DeMoss. They faulted him for not maintaining the legacy of Kennedy and for altering traditions, such as calling for visitors to come to Jesus at the end of every sermon.
Ten spoke in favor of keeping Tchividjian, noting that church membership is increasing and that the congregation should stay united.
Tchividjian did not attend the meeting, but he said his piece during the early-morning service, when he warned the congregation against choosing to honor one man instead of choosing to honor God.
So... what would you do if YOUR church voted on whether you stayed or whether you would go? What if they did this yesterday?
1. What do you think the vote would be?
2. If it was not conclusive that most people wanted you there, would you stay or leave? (Is the result of the vote important to you?
3. What would you do to seek out and work with those who voted for your demise?
(I'd love to hear your comments below)
Also... I'd love to hear your opinion on this: By my math; nearly 1/3 of all the members who cared to vote, voted to expel the pastor. How do you lead with 1/3 of 'active' members wishing you weren't there? How does it change your style of leadership? Do you 'go for it' and take the vote as confirmation of your direction? Or do you pull back, and try to get the other third on board? Or do you say... 1/3 is too many dissenters: "I'm outta here". Those seem to be the three options:
1. Push forward
2. Pull back
3. Leave
What would you do?
Todd
Comments
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Bernard Shuford on Mon, September 21, 2009
I think I’d have to leave. I’m not a pastor, but I know of pastors that would never feel comfortable with a 69% confirmation vote. Dadjim, that’s a terrible number to have to live with.
I like Tullian. It does, however, bother me for a pastor to take a path of changing a church with this type of approval rating. 80-90%, yeah. 70 or below, not so sure.
Simon on Mon, September 21, 2009
They faulted him for not maintaining the legacy of Kennedy and for altering traditions, such as *calling for visitors to come to Jesus at the end of every sermon.*
People seriously fault a church leader for that?!
Bernard Shuford on Mon, September 21, 2009
Are they faulting him for NOT “calling for visitors to come to Jesus at the end of every sermon,” or for doing it????
Rich Barrett on Mon, September 21, 2009
Tullian should absolutely stay. I don’t know if I’d always say that about a 70% approval rating, but in this case the numbers are a bit misleading. There are lots of newcomers who are not yet members who would have pushed that number higher. Lots of old-time members who are not helping move the church forward any longer came out of the woodwork to bring that number down. If it were simply a poll of week-to-week attenders, his approval rating would be much higher.
There is passion on both sides of the discussion. It is a classic case of tradition vs. mission. There are hundreds of families at this church enthused about the mission. Tullian should stay.
In another year, I’m confident many of the nay-sayers will have left, hundreds new will have joined and a similar vote would be 90% in his favor.
Percentages aside, Tullian is a true leader, and is leading the right people in the right direction.
Sara on Mon, September 21, 2009
I have been in that situation. My last ministry job found me in a very similar space. I went in and began to change a few things. Received some positive feedback from the majority of my volunteers and a small amount of negative feedback from a very vocal minority.
Unfortunately it never went to a vote. The minority had their way and I was asked to leave. The majority were shocked and dismayed. They offered to petition - but my heart was no longer there. I opted to not create more dissension than already existed and took my leave.
Tom Cox on Mon, September 21, 2009
I’m pastor of a small PCA church. It grieves my heart to hear of instances such as this in my own denomination and of other similar situations in other evangelical churches.
I know that I wouldn’t accept a call where almost a third of the members did not want me up front. After the fact? That’s tougher. If he stays he’ll lose a bunch of people and still have a partially toxic atmosphere in which to minister.
Uggh! Even so, come Lord Jesus!
Pat on Mon, September 21, 2009
There’s a lot here. First off, I agree with the pastor’s statement, �They faulted him for not maintaining the legacy of Kennedy and for altering traditions�. It’s a shame when we get caught up into people and can’t see the work of God at hand. We are so tied to our way of doing things, that we often can’t see when it’s hindering the work of God. Times change, methodologies change but the Word of God is forever. Why can�t we see that?
I also wonder how Kennedy would feel about his daughter�s actions. Seems very divisive. We are all allowed our own opinions and to the extent that we feel we can no longer worship and fellowship at a particular church, we should move on, not stay and create havoc. But again, we are tied to our human institutions. How many times have you heard people righteously declare the words, �My church�? It�s not your church or my church, it�s God�s church. If I�m really committed to the kingdom, I will work or try to work for change. To the extent that I can�t be effective, it�s time to move on if the Lord leads in that way. If not, then I�m to remain and keep my peace and pray for pastor and direction of the ministry. The man has only been there 6 months; give him a chance!
Unfortunately, in our church, that�s about how many showed up at our last major congregational meeting (1/3). When people don�t attend, they are in effect voting with their absence. You have to move on with those who did vote. But it�s hard to know that many people are against you. 422 is a pretty large number. I think if it were me, I would actively reach out to that group and try to seek understanding.
Rob on Mon, September 21, 2009
He should stay. If he’s called to lead the church, then he has no choice…......and those who have come against him need to be careful to not fall into sin…...in fact, if they can’t support their pastor, they should find a new church to attend.
Ray Schwartz on Mon, September 21, 2009
Years ago, I lived this, but not by congregational vote but by 1/3 Elder pressure so that a few could take the church in another direction. It was isidious. Then another 1/3 arose to support the bullying (for that is was it was), and there was no win this. Over 2/3 of the church wanted me to stay. The church was splitting - and the name of Jesus in the community was pulled through the mud. Leaving was the only way to move forward to so that real kingdom expanding could take place through our lives. I was bullied into leaving. I should have stayed.
For the sake of the true gospel, not the the traditions of the past, this Pastor must stay. And, godly people around him must raise up his arms - talk more about Jesus - and less about what people want from church. Its not about which style of worship, governance, or personality. Its about Jesus Christ. Period.
Jimmie Davidson on Mon, September 21, 2009
If voting had been in vogue when Moses led the story would have been different. I think it’s true at Highlands too. When leading there are some seasons your stock is high and some it’s low. You can’t worry about that as you lead people where they need to go. If he leaves; the church will likely wind up would most aging giants are found, in the past. I think he should stay.
Jay on Mon, September 21, 2009
Having been through a couple of no confidence type votes, I wanted to stay. The faithful forward looking members wanted to move forward. the dissenters wanted their old church back. It’s the let’s go back to Eqypt com all over again. If God is suggesting the church be more faithful to the direction God is giving, then let’s move forward and hope that the people who don’t like it leave. unfortunately after I left, the supporters and the faithful also left, leaving a much weaker congregation, though some felt they “won.” it’s been downhill ever since.
to answer the question, I would want to stay if I felt God was providing a new way forward. I would leave if the group of dissenters would block every step we needed to take all along the way.
Larry on Mon, September 21, 2009
I’m 57 years old. I’ve seen this same thing happen at other very large churches which are essentially built around a personality rather than the message he preaches. The result is that the first pastor who follows him tends not to stay very long. He becomes the catalyst for change, but the changes are his undoing. The pastor who follows him tends to have a much easier time of it and it able to institute changes without as much resistance. It’s as though people have to distance themselves from the personality who ‘was’ in order to get back to the mission of the church.
I hope he rides it out. The people who are opposing him should probably be the ones to leaves, though the numbers may be smaller initially, they will be united behind him and new members will come and be oblivious to the former personality preacher.
And where is James Kennedy in all of this? He should be standing behind this new preacher saying, “You followed me. Now follow him. I had my ministry and direction from the Lord. He has his.” The fact that his daughter was a part of the insurrection is indefensible. He should be asking her not to be a part of this? How would she have felt it this had happened to her father? WWJD??
When Christians take sides against each other, it hurts the Kingdom of God everywhere. The lost, the cynical, and the world at large judge all Christian churches by what they read in the press, who delight is exposing our underbelly to the world.
Rod on Mon, September 21, 2009
It happened to me in my first church. The leadership wanted me to leave, and called for a vote the following Sunday. The vote was unanimous for me to stay! But the leadership didn;t back down. Two more votes later in 2 months i resigned, hurt, bruised and bleeding. I am still paying the price of that ugly incident 13 years later. I should have left after the first vote, but i was stubborn and wanted to win. I would have avoided some tough hurt. But God’s grace is more powerful then trhe situation. Satan loves division and laughs when believers trip over themselves to take out another believer (be it a pastor or not) I would question the leadership of the church, are they behind the pastor? If not, go, don’t be the pawn of the devil in an ugly situation. That’s my 2cents worth anyway.
Frank M. on Mon, September 21, 2009
I’d continue on and preach the gospel and watch my life and my doctine closely while using every occasion to lift up Jesus knowing that he will draw people to himself. I would seek to love but not appease those who would remove me. If God called him to teach then teach he should and leave the results to God. I’d enlist earnest pray-ers to ask the Lord to pour out His spirit.
As an aside - It would be interesting to see what the demographics look like for those who said the new pastor must go.
Mark Jackson on Mon, September 21, 2009
D. James Kennedy died in 2007.
I’m reminded of the Disney organization following Walt’s death. The question “What would Walt do?” morphed into “Walt wouldn’t do ______” and we got shoddy animation, bottom-line thinking & a crisis of creativity.
I can not imagine that any pastor would want his legacy to be a straitjacket on the pastor that follows him.
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