When pastors get in trouble, how much power does a denominational superior really have? And is a denominational superior the pastor’s pastor? Here are five responses:
SIDE WITH THE CONGREGATION
Depending on a church’s history, I usually come down on the side of a congregation, because it’s harder for a congregation to mess up with a pastor than a pastor with a congregation. Unless there’s a sickness in the congregation, you have too many good people who want their church to work. There may be some neurotic or psychotic people who can do some damage, but usually the congregation doesn’t pay any attention to them.
—John HeinsDistrict PresidentLutheran Church—Missouri Synod
CAN’T DISCIPLINE MEMBERS
We [district superintendents] cannot discipline church members. Only the local church can. …
It’s easier when the pastor has caused a problem, because I’ve got good rapport with our pastors. I’m here to support them. It’s easier for me to help one guy change a few things. To try to help a board change is a little harder. To help a whole church change is very difficult.
—Joel PaviaDistrict SuperintendentThe Assemblies of God
BY INVITATION ONLY
I have as little authority as anybody in our denomination. Everything centers in the local church as far as autonomy.
The weakness is that people don’t want me to be a bishop in Baptist life unless they want me to take their side against somebody else’s. But I do have some influence. When it comes to the management of conflict … , we must have the invitation of the people in order to have any authority in the situation.
—Don ReedDirector of MissionsSouthern Baptist Convention
DISARMED POWER
Our committee on ministry has two different roles: the support of pastors, and the supervision of church ministries. Since those often conflict, we’ve established an independent committee called “clergy support” whose sole function is to support the clergy. …
The committee on ministry is very powerful. … We’ve tried to minimize its negative potential and use its influence as support and guide.
—Ken WorkingExecutive PresbyterPresbyterian Church (USA)
BETWEEN BOTH SIDES
Conference ministers are counselors or mediators. They are constantly needing to look at questions on both sides of pastor-congregation issues. …
There was a day in which we talked about the conference minister as the pastor to pastors, which built in an assumption that the conference minister was always on their side. The reality is that pastors come and go and churches stay. The conference minister is always that person between pastor and congregation.
—John EsauConference MinisterGeneral Conference Mennonite Church
1996 Christianity Today/LEADERSHIP Journal
