Comments on: Removing the Wrong People

By: When to Let Someone Go | p341.com

When to Let Someone Go | p341.com — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 22:02:29 +0000

[...] the wrong person to protect his feelings is unfair to you and to your team member. Visit his blog for the [...]

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 03:49:39 +0000

Why do some ministries and churches put people into leadership rolls because they are faithful but lack the ability to do the work, I’ve seen it time, and time again in small and mega- churches what happens every time people begin to leave, people with strong gifts & talents that is sad the secular world doesn’t operate that way.

By: Peter Daniels - Dreams and Life Goals - Pt 08 « Christocentric Leadership

Peter Daniels - Dreams and Life Goals - Pt 08 « Christocentric Leadership — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:48:12 +0000

[...] Removing the Wrong People - LifeChurch.tv : swerve [...]

By: Aaron Couch

Aaron Couch — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:33:48 +0000

We faced this decision as a church plant. we had four people on our team and had to fire one early in the life of the church. As if church plants are not unstable enough, we had to deal with the relational repercussions of that choice. Because of many of these principles, that ex-staff member and his whole family are still active and participating in the church a year later.

By: Mind Dump 07/08/08 « Christocentric Leadership

Mind Dump 07/08/08 « Christocentric Leadership — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 16:29:43 +0000

[...] Removing the Wrong People - LifeChurch.tv : swerve [...]

By: Daniel

Daniel — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 12:27:10 +0000

So if you do have a small church (which that is how Life Church started as the rest of us except mine is still small) and its in a small area, how do you fire someone not knowing who will fill the hole? Do you start seeking the replacement first?

And its a hard balance between helping someone change and grow and having to let them go. I would think that a process needs to be in place to ensure growth. And then if a person doesn’t then they will know because of the process.

I agree with Craig - totally. Just not sure what to do if there is no replacement in a spot where you have to have someone else.

By: jimmy paravane

jimmy paravane — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:29:31 +0000

Matt…dang it, did you google that? I am both in awe of yer skillz & and I hate you! (grin)

By: phill

phill — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:52:32 +0000

I have a saying…when it comes to staff…we have zero projects…

By: Ron Edmondson

Ron Edmondson — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 21:50:54 +0000

The leader in the room is not always the smartest person, but the one who can make this kind of tough decision. Thanks for the reminder.

By: stephanie

stephanie — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 19:42:50 +0000

from someone who will soon be helping build a team of people, these recent posts have been helpful and much needed! thanks!

By: Brett

Brett — Sat, 28 Jun 2008 02:47:53 +0000

One thing that I think Jesus really had that I honestly covet is the ability to see the potential of a human being. Yeah he had that diety thing going for him but I think of how many times I’ve seen someone flourish in one ministry after having been removed from another. The tricky part is helping the person you’ve removed find that place they are supposed to be. I know that God uses “being let go” as a way to motivate and move people sometimes but what a tragedy to have that person not see the possiblities associated with that move and just give up. Too often these things end up in messes that merely cause more disunity in the body. My dad always reminded me that the person in the body that I have the most conflict with could very well be my roommate in heaven!!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 17:07:55 +0000

I do agree with you Craig. The problem I have is that I think you are taking your stance from a large church perspective. Here is my reasoning. I came from CA, and I was on staff at a very large church. When I first came to OK I had the idea that I would do everything the same as I saw my Pastor do, alot of the same things you are writing about. I cannot begin to tell you how different a large church is from a small one. I am blown away at the differences, and through it all God has changed my heart and my thinking about all of it. Your points are well taken Craig, but I don’t think they apply in every situation. Blessings,

Jim

By: James

James — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:45:43 +0000

No. 10 reminds of something my pastor/boss said this past Sunday: “If you’re unwilling to take the first step, don’t expect God to give you the second.”

By: MRB

MRB — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 23:30:22 +0000

What if you love a guy and really believe in him, but his wife rubs you the wrong way? He’s a lifter, but she’s equally a downer. Would you hire the guy based on his merits or look at the big picture and say — I just don’t want the baggage on the team?
Thanks

By: Mark Rampulla

Mark Rampulla — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:30:12 +0000

GREAT STUFF!!!

By: Danny Eiler

Danny Eiler — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 21:13:43 +0000

I do totally see your point, and I’ve read you talk about this many times. It makes a lot of sense, but how do you contrast your mantra of “hire slowly, fire quickly” to what Donald Miller says in his book “searching for God knows what”? here’s the quote…. I’ve talked to one of your staff members about this before, but I’m wondering where you draw the balance between these two, seemingly, very different philosophies.

“My pastor and friend Rich McKinley talked to me recently about a meeting he had with a young pastor who was beginning a church plant in another city. In the course of conversation, the young pastor asked Rick at what point he should kick people out of leadership because they were failing to understand the nature of ministry. Rick looked at the pastor, confused. “Kick them out of leadership?” Rick asked. “Sure” the young pastor replied. “We have to move forward, right? And if they don’t get it, I need to weed them out.”
Rick sat back and laughed. “Listen” he said. “If I threw out the guys who didn’t get it when I stared Imago, we wouldn’t have anybody left, including me! You are never going to build a church by kicking people out. This isn’t a fast food restaurant; it’s the kingdom of God, and quality disciples take a lot of time. Jesus is patient to the end”

You do see a lot of times where Jesus puts up with a lot of pretty stupid things that the disciples did. I’m pretty sure that I’ve heard you say before that it seemed like the disciples would never get it.

I’m not trying to start an argument, just looking for your thoughts.

By: danny

danny — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 18:21:07 +0000

I’m fairly new at having significant leadership responsibility. I have only had to remove a few people. The first time, it was the hardest thing I had done in leadership up to that point. The next time it was a bit easier, but still difficult. I think one of the reasons it’s so hard is because this is their work and their church. Also, I have found that the Holy Spirit will go before you and prepare the way if you let Him.

By: Dan Borchert

Dan Borchert — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:53:32 +0000

I have learned that some people just don’t do well with some people. I know that sounds mean and we should all get a long, but it doesn’t always happen. With that being said, if there is a “problem” with a person (paid or volunteer) Craig is right, you have to deal with it. Certaintly do try and work things out. But eventually you have to ask yourself these tough questions:
1. Is this getting in the Church’s way of making diciples?
2. Is this situation causing to much time, energy, and resources that we could be spending on reaching people with God’s love?
That is what it boils down to in my mind. When you think of it that way, you will know what you have to do.

By: joshbrown

joshbrown — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:14:23 +0000

I think many times these situations surrounding removal of a staff member get too heated and personal. Instead of finding the positive aspects of an individual, encouraging them in those areas and blessing them as they move on to a new ministry, they are often flooded with negativity.

What would it look like if instead of just cutting them off completely, we had a specific staff member or volunteer that would give help and support for the person and thus allow the church to aid them in finding exactly where God wants them?

By: Kevin Bussey

Kevin Bussey — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 16:58:40 +0000

Craig,

I found in my last church they wouldn’t give me the ability to make the staff change needed so I removed myself.