Expert: Clive Heath - 2/8/2010

Question
We had a couple to separate in my church. They ask for couseling with the paster at which time the paster took the young mans job as usher away from him and said because he would not give a reason as to why he left his wife that he was not worthy to hold the job anymore but his wife is still secretary in the church.The church voted the young man in should the church not have been the one to vote the young man out. During this time two of our deacons went before the church and paster to ask if the chuech members who voted the young man in should not have the vote to say whether or not he should keep his job. But the paster said that they had went against him and that the church was his to make thwe decision not the body of the church which is the members .He sat the deacons down and put them under 6 months watch. One if the deacons was organ player. He said Sunday in church that all the people who did not side with him was hetherns. Is there any rules or covanetes in which the church is too go by to dismiss someone from and elected post in church? If so could you please help me to understand which is the right way according to the KIng James version of the bible. Sincerely yours in Christ,Lisa

Answer
Hi Lisa,

Hope you are well and I will do my best to help you.


The Church is the people, not the Pastor. Thus the Deacons are correct in taking this issue to him, as Deacons are also servents of the Church and it is part of their duty to ensure that all things are fair as are the Church membership. It is not for the Pastor to make this judgement, especially if it only involves one of the couple, and some folk like to keep things personal. Because people seperate it does make them bad or different people, it happens all the time, that is why God gave us all a free will so we can make our own decisions.

The decision to take the action should have been made by the members, if by any body. I would question the Pastors decisision and more importantly as to why he thinks he has that authority, as said the Church is the people. Also, if the young man in question had not asked for help he would not have been punished, yet he did what he thought was right in asking for counselling. To also take action towards the Deacons for speaking out is also unacceptable, as they were in the right by doing so as an injustice has been done.

Now to use the word heathens toward people is not in keeping of his position and my view is that this Pastor should not be in his position, he has not shown the actions of an understanding, loving, caring and compassionate Christian, let alone that of a Pastor.

Hope this helps

Regards and God Bless

Clive Heath