i don’t think i’ve ever had a harder day in the ministry in my entire life.
from 1:00 to 4:30 today, i along with a couple of elders sat down with every single member on staff, one at a time (nine in all), and either fired them or reduced their pay by a considerable amount. for 3 and a half hours i had to sit and tell people that the church could no longer afford to pay them what they were making, or that we couldn’t pay them at all and they would have to seek employment elsewhere.
i’ve been dreading this day for the past week. i knew it was coming and i knew that it was inevitable… but i hoped upon hope that it wouldn’t have to happen. i’ve spent hours upon hours pouring over the financial status of the church trying to do what i could to preserve as many jobs as possible, and i think i succeeded in that… but it certainly wasn’t easy to be a part of a group that was telling people, “hey, you’re doing a good job… but we’re going to have to cut your pay…” or even better yet, “we’re going to have to let you go.” let me tell you, that flies like a lead balloon.
when i entered the ministry, i certainly didn’t sign up for this…Â i didn’t sign up to be the ax man, and i certainly didn’t ever expect to have to make “business” decisions, especially in order to keep a church afloat.
this has to be one of the hardest, most stressful, and most emotional days in ministry i’ve ever faced. i’m physically, mentally and emotionally drained from this experience… i can only imagine how the staff must be feeling. if i never have to do this again, it’ll be too soon–unfortunately, i’m not so sure that will be the case.
Related posts:
- manifesto of frustration.
- sick of being sick
- sim church.
- musings about the incarnational way.
- death by ministry.
Trust me I am not envying your position at all. I am reminded of what Kimball said a couple years ago at e/c conference though, “…we wonder why people view Christianity as organized religion..the church screams out I am a corporation a business each and every day”
I wonder how it has come to this? I sure dont wish your situation on any one man. Hope and pray it all works out.