Previous | Next 

VIEWPOINT
Will we retain leaders?

Gary Badker

The April 27 Herald reported another gathering to discuss leadership. The guiding question was: “How will the Mennonite Brethren Conference discern, develop and retain the church leaders it needs for the next 10 to 15 years?” Most discussions of this subject seem to focus on discerning and developing leaders, with less attention given to retaining leaders. Yet, an examination of recent studies and books reveals there is a crisis in the third area.

At one time, it was common to find church growth literature encouraging readers to “close the back door”. That is, as new people are brought into church membership through the front door of evangelism, an effort needs to be made to see that current members do not leave through the back door of inactivity or neglect. The current leadership crisis has moved beyond being a “back door” concern; it is now a “trap door”.

According to a recent book, a pastor in the US is “forced out” of his church every six minutes. Another study revealed that more than 30% of all churches have forced their previous pastor to leave, and a fourth of all current pastors have been forced out at some point in their careers. These pastors are not usually terminated because of sin or heresy. Instead, they are forced out by the exercise of power by a group within the church. Approximately 40% of those who have been forced out have not yet returned to pastoral ministry. A leading seminary’s publication noted that about 50% of all M.Div. graduates leave full-time ministry within five years of graduating. Many of those that don’t drop out, move frequently. The Billy Graham School of Missions noted not long ago that the average tenure of pastors among all Protestant churches is 2.3 years. Short pastorates result in a tremendous loss of ministerial effectiveness since the most significant ministry often occurs after a pastor has been part of a community for five to six years.

The number of highly trained leaders lost is only part of the cost. There is enormous collateral damage to pastoral families and church families following a forced exit. Menno Epp found that the “after-shocks jar the lives of people, particularly the children of the pastor, into the next generation”. The forced departure of a pastor cannot be accomplished with clean, surgical precision; too many ragged edges and exposed nerves remain. One pastor interviewed put it this way: “I have heard people say that the pastor and church relationship is like a marriage – it didn’t feel like that to me, it didn’t feel like a divorce, it felt like an abortion.”

It is surprising to discover that neither theology nor polity (form of church government) can insulate church and pastor from this tragedy. Liberal and conservative churches alike force their pastors to leave. Both congregationally governed churches and episcopal-run denominations terminate pastors without “due process”.

There are no easy or quick answers to this problem, but enough is known to suggest a place to begin.

First, today’s pastor must be adaptable. John Kotter, an authority on management and leadership, points out that effective leadership is remarkably chameleon-like. As situations change, the effective pastor needs to be able to shift his or her approach. This is not a change in values or theology, but in problem-solving techniques.

Second, conflicts must be acknowledged and managed in a biblical manner. The absence of conflict does not reflect maturity but is an illusion generated by the insecure. Congregations must concede some of their independence and invite specialists into their churches to assist in conflict resolution. One can find in the news coverage of any major traumatic event mention of teams to “debrief” those who have survived the ordeal. As believers, we should not pretend to escape the residual effects of conflict.

Finally, we must find a way to give the Holy Spirit real influence. Too often what is obvious to the impartial observer is missed by those passionately involved. Clearly unspiritual behaviours are to often rationalized as just.

The effect of leadership loss is not that the church “shoots itself in the foot” but that it “shoots itself in the heart”. The most powerful confirmation of our gospel message – changed lives – is compromised.

Gary Badker is a former pastor who recently finished is D.Min. degree at Denver Seminary. Presently he teaches high school in Chilliwack, B.C., writes and presents workshops for pastors.

Previous | Next 

Last modified August 22, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
Masthead and usage information.