ministrystaffingsearch.org BLOG

I couldn't have said I relate to this problem last week, but after looking at the wording of the rejection letter I received from a church just two days ago - that had narrowed me down to one of the top two pastoral candidates - I think there may be some merit to this age discrimination thing. I am fifty years old. I wasn't aware that the other candidate this church was considering was much younger - that is, until I received their letter. At least three times in that letter it stated how excited they were about the other YOUNG man they voted to call, and then asked for my prayer. The word "YOUNG" didn't hit me until later. But for the first time in my life I had a feeling that I was, at least in part, discriminated against because of my age. For the first time in my life I actually felt a little old. But even with this all said, I also know that God is in control and I am okay with not being selected. If God chooses to use my age to keep me from going through a door then that's His perogative. He sure does know how to keep us humble - doesn't He? :0)

Strangely I the opposite happened to me. I was asked to speak for several services at a certain church.

The services were powerful and with tears in their eyes I was told by many at the church that what was preached was needed at the church.

I was even told in public by some of the elders that if it was up him I would have been hired the first time I preached.

After this, I was asked to fill out a questionaire, then asked to come to a meeting for a vote for the opportunity to serve as pastor for the small church. (I had never put in a resume or asked to be nominated.)

I allowed my name to stand and was letting the Holy Spirit lead matters to whether he wanted me in that position.

After all that was said and done, I was told I didn't have the experience. (too young at 41?).

Experience with what I wonder? I run my own business so it could not have been inexperience with administration. My father was a preacher and I was raised in a christian hime. I have done a whole array of outreach and evangelical ministries since before I was a teenagers. I have held different postions in church for years. Not to mention we were taught, "hands on" and I had the opportunity to preach and minister during Bible College.

It seems obvious to me why so many churches have interim pastors and seem to be unble to find a leader?

I was referred to a church, years ago, by an interdenominational ministers alliance. The 100 year old pastor had retired. He had pastored the church for 50 years. I was in my thirties at the time, however, members of the alliance felt that I would be the man to pastor this church. I went and met with the pastoral selection committee. Following the interview, I was then asked to speak at the Sunday morning service.

The sermon that God gave me was so well received that several members of the church stood up after the altar call, and said to the trustees/selection committee, during the service that, "we need not look any further for God has sent our pastor".

The trustees and pastoral selection committee members took me aside and added that following a 50-year pastor would be a tough act to follow, but conceded that we like you, your background, your experience and your ability to preach. They went on to say that we believe that you are an excellent candidate; however, they declined me on the spot.

Why, not because of my age? The Spirit simply moved in their church that Sunday, and as they they explained it, they simply did not want to become, "bapti-costalists". I was and still am a non-denominational minister, however, members of the selection committe were Baptist, and they did not want to change from their conservative-baptist style of worship. Ironically, all I did was to preach and to give the invitation.

The members of the church having learned what took place with the slection committe, stayed in contact with me and begged me not to move on to another assembly., for they wanted a spirit-filled minister to pastor their church. This was obviously in contrast to the ones who would make the final decision. Selection committes at churches can have their own agendas, that at times are at odds with the members of the church. They wield a lot of power.

So even though the selection committe believed that the Spirit of God was working through me, they did not want that at their church. Too many churches today are governered by groups like this. The Apostle Paul wrote about carnality in churches.

Ah, it did not bother me for I recalled what Jeremiah wrote, "I will give you pastors according to my heart who will feed you with knowledge and understanding".

Many selection committes in congregations today, will choose a shepherd according to their own hearts and not God's, for they are not interested in being fed with knowledge and understanding.

Some in their congregations have their own agendas! All would-be shepherds must remember that Jesus came to his own and they did not receive him! But go rather where the Father works and where you can work.

With respect to age, we read in Job 32nd chapter, that it is the,"insiration of the Almighty" that matters over an individual's age.

"For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many might, not many noble are called... 1 Cor 1:26.

Peace & Grace,

The "Roman Edifices" are going to come down. God does not dwell in buildings but in the temple of the body of Christ. Jesus spent much less time in the "synagogues" as he did outside the walls and try as they might they cannot control the Holy Spirit. (Heaven knows why they would even want to do that.)

The stiff-necked and unyielding ones who would stop the work of the Lord in their midst are hurting themselves, and unfortunately the congregations they are accountable for.

"Better to have a millstone tied around their necks and cast into the sea ... Jesus said."

I would like more information on this topic. My father is facing an unfair, forced retirement from ministry. Any help you could give would be appreciated.

Hurt Preacher's Kid

Hi Preacher's Kid:

Could you give us a little more insight . . . situation . . . what led up to the decision, theological issue(s), etc, without revealing any names or location?

Thank you for your quick response, I wasn't expecting it.

I want to be sure I have the facts right before I answer.

Thank you again,

HPK

Hello again,

I told my father about this website and he said he'd check it out. I'm not sure if he will want to post anything.

In my father's case, he has served for 25+ years as a lay pastor in what is now a very large, urban church. He was also made an elder in the church soon after he came on staff. My father used to be self-employed and ran a very successful business when he was "invited to the ministry" by the then pastor and congregation. Before coming on staff he had done a lot of volunteer ministry and had earned a good reputation for his integrity, counseling ability and financial wisdom. My dad gave up his business and took a 50% cut in pay when he accepted the offer to come on staff full time. I remember we went through some hard financial times back then but my dad was happy to be serving the Lord.

The church experienced a change of pastoral leadership about 5 years after my father came on staff. At the time, my father was very supportive of the new, younger pastor and felt the decision to hire him would help revive the congregation.

The church took on a new "feel" after this pastor took over. It now has a pronounced emphasis on reaching out to the college age/young adult sector with modern, "high tech" worship services, etc.

A few months ago, my father suffered a severe orthopedic injury. The next day, my step-mom suffered a mild stroke. Their recent trouble with this "retirement issue" came about when the pastor mentioned to my dad that "he didn't know they [the church] had been paying so much for my dad's health insurance." Then he tried to encourage my dad to start thinking about retirement.

Until then, my father had not thought about retiring. His injury is painful but does not limit his ability to serve as a church counselor.

When my dad expressed his desire to stay on, the pastor's attitude changed. He explicity told my father that he didn't want him to stay. When my father asked him, "Are you saying I'm fired?" things really got ugly. The pastor himself does not have the authority to "fire" my father.

In a later meeting, the pastor changed his tactics by saying he was dissatisfied with my father's job performance but in his 25 years of service my father has never received a bad "work performance" review before now.

Since all this began, there have been several meetings between my dad, the board of elders and the pastor. Some of the elders support my father's position and the other's support the pastor's. The pastor has accused my father of disloyalty for questioning his judgement on this and other issues.

The only theological issue that came up was a comment the pastor made regarding my dad's position on divorce. My father paid for a defense attorney for my step-sister when her now ex-husband had her falsely arrested for assault. They have two small children. My father cares for his step-daughter but he also wanted to be sure his grandchildren didn't end up in the sole custody of an abusive man. She was found innocent of all charges and during her custody dispute with her ex-husband, the court awarded her primary custody of the children.

My father DID NOT change his view that divorce is wrong, what he did do is help his step daughter during her time of need. He also exhausted his entire life savings to do it.

This week my father was forced into accepting a retirement package that seems grossly unfair given the amount of time he has served in the church. Based on other things that were said to him and certain tactics that were used to coerce him I believe he is being discriminated against because of his age.

What hurts my dad the most is the feeling of betrayal he is experiencing. This pastor has shown very little compassion for my father's current health and financial difficulties. My dad knows this is unfair but even if he were to win a courtcase, he no longer wishes to serve at this church. Also, he doesn't want to bring shame to the name of Christ by dragging this into a civil court.

Thank you for the opportunity to voice my complaint. This situation has been very difficult to deal with especially since it feels as if there is nothing any of us can do about it. My dad has reassured me he and his family will be okay. It just hurts so bad to think that someone in a position of authority in the church would act in such an uncaring way.

Thanks again for listening.


HPK