What if Your Church Voted Yesterday Whether or Not to Keep You?
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, September 21, 2009
- Viewed 187
- (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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Rev Eric on Tue, September 22, 2009
As a pastor I think it’s wise to always look for solutions… ones that bring glory to God. There has been very good discussion here. I am interested to know if anyone from Coral Ridge is reading these statements. I think these entries are good reading for those who either voted for or against the pastor. Is there anyone reading these that has a contact at Coral Ridge and can gather people from that church to read these comments? That would be an awesome meeting!
Pastor Matt on Wed, September 23, 2009
It depends if you’re called to be a popular pastor or not!
The president of my golf club is very popular but that doesn’t mean he has been called and selected by God. Moses similarly faced internal opposition - however he was leading a nation, not a local church.
At the end of the day this comes down to the hire & fire attitude - based on results, humanly measured success and popularity - that is so prevalent in North America.
GR Guy on Wed, September 23, 2009
I put most of the blame on the church members and the governing body. Didn’t they know what they were getting in a new pastor before they invited him to come on permanently? If not, it’s their fault for either not evaluating him thoroughly or not letting him know their expectations up front if those things were that important to them.
As long as it’s not a theological issue, I think he should stay. This is just a style issue. Members have a right to leave and that’s what they should do if they cannot fully support their pastor.
BTW, Todd, this black reversed background is very difficult to read off of. Can we go back to the white?
thom on Thu, September 24, 2009
i was there just visiting that sunday…...some time the sheep are hard to care for and spit on you and other things for just being the pastor….
there are hundreds that are attending the church but are not member therefore cant vote…......also the summer membership class was 194 the largest in the history of the church…i think.
also i heard him speak on sunday a.m. and it was great…...a caring shepard trying to show Gods love….
Rev Dera on Fri, September 25, 2009
I actually lived and am still living this situation. UCC ordained and was serving a small rural church, the head of the Deacons did not like me personally because I was not “classy” enough for him and his wife and I was a woman. (Some of this Deacon’s family were well known in UCC conference area). 65% of the church voted yearly for me to stay, church attendance grew during my tenure, young folk attended due to my working with them, and visitation was made to shut-ins and sick.
I mentally came to the point that I could not keep taking the abuse from this deacon, his wife and a few others against me and saw that the church was being divided so I resigned. The largest problem this Deacon and his wife had was that I was a woman Pastor and did not have my Doctorate.
I have not served a church in 6 years because this Deacon, his wife and little group almost destroyed my faith and belief in myself and I am a really strong person. By the way, my successor is a man, has a Doctorate and he has been there 5 years, does no visiting, no youth work ( and they have all left the church), and is not liked by most of the congregation. He remains there because of the Deacon, his wife and little group. The congregation which is about 35 people are not “voting” each year for this pastor to stay because the Deacon said “it was not necessary” to vote each year (although church by-laws says it is). The pastor also preaches politics from the pulpit which in my opinion is not right and is not a separation of Church and State.
I can understand what this pastor(Tchividjian) is facing. If we are doing God’s work, why does someone want us to stop it? Like the church I was serving, it sounds as if Tchividjian’s church does not want any change. Let’s pray for him as a leader and for the Church too. No preacher is a church and no members are owners of a church. A church is God’s house, should be doing God’s work and that is the way it should be.
Pastor Matt on Fri, September 25, 2009
Thanks for sharing that Rev Dera - I’m sure you’ll get a medal in heaven for dealing with people like that… !
Josh Willits on Sat, September 26, 2009
I’m not in ministry, but I’ve seen similar confirmation votes in the past. In my experience, and in my opinion, that church is divided, plane and simple. As the leader and shepherd, I would step down and move on. I think his ministry will suffer with a third of the congregation wanting him out. For the sake of the stability of the church, I’d move on. I don’t think it’s about who is right or wrong, it’s about unity and support and continuing to have an effective ministry. Just my 2 cents…
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