Right or Wrong? Pastoral responsibilities
I serve on our church’s personnel committee. Our pastor only comes to the office parts of three days each week. Some members are stoking rumors our pastor is not doing his job. What can we do?
At least two Scripture passages relate to the issue you’re facing. First is Matthew 18:15-20. In this passage, Jesus established the principle that when we have grievances against people, we begin by approaching them one on one. Second is Luke 6:31. Here, Jesus commanded that we treat people the way we would want them to treat us. These two principles should guide your approach to this matter.
Your question suggests two possible problem areas. First, your pastor may not be fulfilling his job expectations. Second, some church members either are spreading false rumors about your pastor or expressing concerns in an inappropriate fashion.
Assuming your church has assigned your personnel committee the responsibility of supervising the pastor, you have responsibilities to both your congregation and your pastor. On the side of your congregation, you need to hold your pastor accountable for work. On the side of your pastor, you need to hold your congregation accountable for having fair work expectations and clearly communicating them.
Determine if your church has personnel policies relating to office hours. If it does, determine if your pastor is following them. If he is, then you and your committee need to communicate to those members who are stoking rumors that your pastor is doing what he is supposed to be doing, and the rumors need to stop. If members persist in spreading false rumors, then the congregation needs to consider church discipline against them. If your pastor isn’t following these policies, then your committee needs to sit down with him and express your concerns about lack of adherence. Your pastor may have good reasons for not being in the office. If not, then your committee needs to warn him. If he continues violating policies, then disciplinary action may be appropriate.
If your church doesn’t have any policies concerning pastoral office hours, check your church minutes or ask your pastor-search committee members to see if you communicated with your pastor expectations in this regard. If the committee or the church expressed such expectations, then your committee should review them with your pastor in a spirit of love and reconciliation.
If your church never has established clear expectations regarding office hours for your pastor, then negotiate expectations that are fair and acceptable to all parties. Once your committee and your pastor have negotiated these expectations, put them in writing and have them adopted by your church as its official policy.
Robert Prince, senior pastor
First Baptist Church
Waynesville, N.C.
Right or Wrong? is sponsored by the T.B. Maston Chair of Christian Ethics at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon School of Theology. Send your questions about how to apply your faith to btillman@hsutx.edu.