Dave served a large church as pastor but ran afoul of a senior adult couple with great influence. Even though he had helped the church through a major building program and brought in fresh ideas, the couple began to lobby for Dave to leave. He did so within a few months.
Dave was just one of 13 participants from three different denominations who found himself seeking help at the recent Ministering to Ministers Wellness Retreat at Judson College. Each participant had faced involuntary termination or another congregational crisis.
“Power issues play a large part in forced terminations in Baptist life, as well as in other denominations,” said Dale Huff, director of the office of LeaderCare and church administration of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. “The most common result of significant conflict in the Baptist church is the pastor’s resignation.”
Alabama-native Charles Chandler began the Ministering to Ministers (MTM) Foundation in 1994 after his own painful experience as a pastor. Since then, MTM has enlisted a number of professionals willing to consult with ministers undergoing various problems.
Healing after conflict
The hallmark of the MTM ministry is the five-day wellness retreat. A group facilitator – normally Chandler- an assistant and a psychologist or psychiatrist conduct individual and group therapy sessions with ministers and spouses.
Chandler, a Baptist, is quick to point out that 26 denominations have been represented in wellness retreats. “Unrest in the church due to a lack of growth, power and personality issues and forced terminations are found in every denomination,” he said.
One of Chandler’s oft-spoken proverbs is “you can lose you pulpit, but you don’t have to lose your ministry.” He insists other options are available and that ministers have transferable skills of which even they may not be aware.
“I often urge our participants not to waste their pain, but to use it constructively in greater ministry,” either within the ministry or in a new vocation, Chandler said.
The Judson retreat gave on minister new hope.
“I learned I now have some opinions for the future,” he said. “And it was good to be with others who’ve gone through what I have. They’ll be a caring group to talk with in the months ahead.”
(JC)
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