Exposure to the Light
As we continue our discussion on how to confront the toxic effect of Clergy Killers in a congregation, I want to describe an even more public approach. Recalling what we have said previously, that naming the demonic effect and bringing it out into the light has the effect of weakening its power.
The danger, of course, is that some public debates around volatile issues can result in a painful choosing up of sides, splits, and deep wounds. I want to suggest a strategy where the leadership removes the subject from a contest of personalities but exposes the issues in a manner that lessens their power.
Focusing on Issues and not Personalities
It is not necessary to name the individuals who have been involved. Usually most people will know who they are, but regardless, the concern that the session can raise is about how a Christian church responds to difficult issues.
How to Be a Church in a Complex World
The session introduces the meeting by saying that certain issues have been identified within the church that they want to discuss in the context of how, as Christians, the church should respond. The session will then frame three issues to be discussed. (Since the pastor has been the focus of these incidents, it is good for someone else to lead the discussion so that it is clear that it is a church issue and not a debate about the pastor.)
Some Examples
Our pastor has received ten letters critical of his/her sermons as being too political, controversial, etc. The first issue is not whether the pastor is correct in his or her interpretation but whether we believe that sermons should only confirm what we already believe or whether it is healthy for them to challenge our thinking. If it is he latter, how do we, as Christians, best respond to being challenged in light of the Gospel.
We have received some suggestions that our pastor is not effective in drawing in new members to the church and we should get a new pastor to help us grow our membership. This raises the question of whether it is only the pastor’s responsibility to grow our membership or whether there are ways we can work together to accomplish this purpose.
Ministry as a Community
These are just two examples but note the pattern.
First, the session is clearly identifying their desire to work with the pastor.
Second, the issues are exposed to the light and the congregation is invited in all their diversity to address them.
Third, the issues themselves can be an opportunity for the church to grow spiritually as they discuss them.
Fourth, personalities, and therefore their power, are removed from the equation and the diversity of the congregation is made clear.
There is more to be explored in working with this issue, but the first achievement is to remove it from the myth that all will be resolved if we just change leadership.
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For examples of clergy confronting complex issues, you might enjoy one of the volumes of Clergy Tales–Tails, amzn.to/1a1uCI6
