Expert: Dr Tim Gladu - 6/8/2009

Question
QUESTION: Our Church got a youth pastor a few months ago and he became instantly popular. I think it's because he is only 25 (our last youth pastor was almost 60 when he retired)so he really relates to us on many different levels and knows what we are going through sometimes and then on top of that he knows the Bible.

So the issue is that after only a few months he was fired because of one stupid thing. We had a Bible Study at his house, which is not the problem because our last youth pastor held Saturday bible studies at his home on a monthly basis. We are usually joined also by the college and middle schools for this. Basically our new youth pastor did the same thing, he had a BBQ and a Bible Study and invited the Middle School and College as well let us meet his wife and his 5 year old son and his Dog.

He never served anyone Beer not even some of the College guys who were over 21 but he did have Beer in his refrigerator and alcoholic drinks in his house. I don't know who but somebody said that everybody got drunk which is not even the truth and can not even be considered an exaggeration because nobody drank anything other than soda, punch and water.

Everybody knows how completely false this is but some people are saying he shouldn't have had beer in his house. He never served it or even drank in our presence and he is old enough to have a case of beer in his refrigerator. We don't know who made this rumor but we all know he shouldn't be fired so I want to know if we should all do something in protest of our youth pastor being fired.

I was thinking all the kids who were mad about this who have their own cars and right now that is most of us go to another church for youth meetings. Would that be a good idea?

ANSWER: Marcus,

I can understand how you feel. I was in the same boat and nobody did anything. I was asked to resign so I wasn’t just fired, but I saw how much the people I thought were my friends really cared. It would have been nice to see that I really had support. If you feel this strongly then you should do something about it. If he was fired for a lie then as church members you have the right to have your voices heard. He will appreciate the support and you may actually be able to get him reinstated if you can prove that he was fired for a lie. When you are fired or even asked to resign because of lies then if no one does anything about it then they accept the lie and are a part of it and just as guilty as those that made the lie. When you allow bad things to happen to people and do nothing about it then you are guilty of at least complacency. You also have to consider that if he was full time then he lost his income and now will have to find another job fast to make up for the loss. I do not think you should just go to another youth group. You should take a stand and do what you can for the guy who was wrongfully accused.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Besides going to another youth group what should we do?

Answer
With most churches there is a church council. If you do have one ask your parents if they could make an appeal to them. If there is not a council then you need to appeal to the pastor. You may also want to find out exactly why he was fired. Make sure that the info you are going on is not rumor. I know that when I left there was so many rumors flying that many people just had the courage to come and ask me what had happened. I have only been on staff in a Baptist church so I know that system well. You never stated your denomination. Most churches do have a council or a group of leaders that do the business of the church.