Recently I have talked to a couple of pastors who experienced the termination of their position and have read several emails about others who have had that painful experience. While I have not personally experienced it, being fired, however nicely you phrase it, has got to be one of the most traumatizing experiences a person can have. When it is a pastor, who sincerely believes s/he has been called to ministry by God, that trauma is multiplied exponentially.
In addition, there are several other entities that are deeply affected by the experience. A primary party to the pain is the family of the pastor. In several cases that I have known, the experience leads to divorce. The congregation also goes through pain. First of all, there are those who support the pastor within the congregation who feel that their church has acted inappropriately. Second, the session and leadership figures, however necessary they think the action is, also know that at some level their hopes for the church are challenged. Finally, the Committee on Ministry, or whatever regional body is responsible for the well-being of both congregations and pastors, confront a difficult situation in need of healing.
Over the next couple of days, I want to explore various aspects of this and how best to respond to this disrupture. Like when a marriage falls apart, it is never what one would want. However, our faith is a critical dimension to how we respond in a manner that can offer the possibilities of redemption and that is what we should strive for.
