Do laypeople want to know when their pastor is candidating?

[Dennis M. Scott]

If your pastor is candidating at another church, how does it effect your feelings toward him/her? Obviously, situations differ, but if you felt things were on a pretty even keel in your church, how unsettling would it be?

Some of us do care about that kind of thing, and no, I've not been asked to candidate - a term I dislike, but that is being used more frequently now.

[Donna Adams]

I think it's best that the church does now know, until they need to know. It puts too much fear out there. Would a laymen who works in a secular job tell his current employer that he's looking? I know some would, but most do not.

[Tina Daling]

In the denomination that I grew up in, a pastor always shared with his church board and his congregation that he received a call. That way nothing was hidden and everyone could be praying for him. And as soon as the decision was made, it was announced from the pulpit. If you had a great pastor and he decided to decline the call - that was wonderful news. If he accepted - at least everyone was in on it.

I don't particularly care for the way these things are handled in the Nazarene denomination.

Tina

[Barb Bouldrey]

If John receives a call, we pray until we know if we should interview. If God says, "no," that is the end of it and no one ever knows.

If John receives a call and we feel we should interview, and they vote on us and God says "Go," then he announces his resignation.

If we interview and then God says, "no," John usually, casually tells his board...in case word leaks back to them.

In all these situations, John usually tells the people afterwards in case word would get back to them through the grapevine. He does not want people thinking he WANTS to leave just because another church wanted him to interview.

He has never told them ahead of time. He does not want them to worry that they are losing their pastor. He does not want misunderstanding over why he interviewed.

I honestly think that it hinders the unity of a church and hinders a pastor's relationship with his congregation if they know he is even willing to interview somewhere else. If God tells the pastor not to leave, there will always be a few who will be convinced he wants to leave, even if he doesn't. I think it hurts some of the best supporters to know their pastor wanted to interview or felt lead to interview. Some then look for the day he/she will resign because now they KNOW he will be leaving soon.

That is why we have almost always been sure God was leading us to that new place before we went to interview.

We know how the Nazarene grapevine works. And we do not want to hurt our people while searching for God's answers.

Barb

[Cindi Hammons]

Our pastor has promised me (board secretary) that he will let us (board) know if/when he begins to look elsewhere for another church. I agree with him wholeheartedly. Now, I don't necessarily agree that it should be common knowledge to the congregation until he would accept a position elsewhere.

I am really intrigued by some of the comments in various threads about how pastoral succession should be handled. Laypersons in general, seem to see a need to know, or at least be prepared for the time when the pastor leaves so that they can be ready to start looking elsewhere. Yet, it seems that many of the pastors/family seem to see a need for the church to have no idea until the resignation is made. Especially if the pastor has been in a position for a longer period of time, why would there be such a willingness to drop this in the laps of the congregation that they have (I hope) loved? I have even seen pastors resign and tell the congregation that their last Sunday would be the next week! I understand the issues on both sides of the argument, and realize it is more complicated that my simple thoughts on the issue. Every church/pastor has a unique situation with unique requirements.

Here's my thought on the matter. If a pastor is starting to actively look for another church, his church board needs to know right then...not after he has accepted another position. This way, the pastor can help that board start planning for how they will look for another. The pastor can then help them to build a bridge between the two pastors. On the other hand, I also think the board should be upfront and honest with the pastor about their feelings on the whole issue. I think 90% of the conflict between pastor and board/congregation is due to poor communication, rumours and inuendo. This would be a situation strictly between pastor and board...not the congregation in general.

Well, anyways, I have to be off to school. I'm sure there will be rotten fruit heaved my way while I am gone. Oh well.

Cindi H.

Edited to add, it can be even more important when the pastoral family holds many jobs in the church that will need replaced. I know that when our pastor decides to move on, it will be a heavy burden on me. Not only am I the board secretary, I will also have to start acting as the church pianist in addition to the already heavy load of responsibilities that I have. So, it isn't just the pastor's job that will need filled. CH

[Barbara Moulton]

If your pastor is candidating at another church, how does it effect your feelings toward him/her? Obviously, situations differ, but if you felt things were on a pretty even keel in your church, how unsettling would it be?

Some of us do care about that kind of thing, and no, I've not been asked to candidate - a term I dislike, but that is being used more frequently now.

It's a really tough to know what to do. When I apply for a job I don't routinely tell my present employer that I am doing so. I wait until I have another job and then I submit a letter of resignation, giving enough notice of course.

I can understand why a congregation might want to know if their pastor is looking at another church, but if it doesn't work out then they would have gone through the emotional prospect (either happiness or sadness) of losing their pastor, only for it to come to nothing.

That can change the way they look at the pastor in the future.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Cindi,
I think the key word in your pastor's situation and to my thinking is "looking." Your pastors says he will let you know when he feels it is time to "look" for a new pastorate.

In 36 years of pastoring and 6 pastorates, we have "looked" for a different pastorate twice. During our 15 year pastorate, John received 12 calls to other churches. We did not interview at any of those 12 churches. God told us "no, stay put." John would tell the people after he turned those calls down just in case the grapevine got back to our people that another church had called him.

If a pastor tells his/her board he feels it is time to begin looking for a different pastorate, then the word will spread that he/she IS moving.

Now, if a pastor is NOT looking and he/she gets a call from another church, it is not always a clear "yes" or "no" from God to interview or turn them down immediately. A few times over these 36 years(3) we just were not sure. We interviewed anyway, searching for God's answer. We were willing to go, willing to stay....we just needed to know from God.

By the time we arrived at 3 of those interviews we knew for sure we would not accept a call there. Only that one time were we willing to allow a church to vote on us, but the board decided we were not the one for them.

I think that if people hear a pastor is looking, they have him/her already packing up the china.

Barb

[Cindi Hammons]

If a pastor tells his/her board he feels it is time to begin looking for a different pastorate, then the word will spread that he/she IS moving.

I think that if people hear a pastor is looking, they have him/her already packing up the china.

Barb

Hi Barb,

I don't think that "people" in general should know the pastor is looking. But, I do think that the board deserves to know. I'm talking about a serious "we know we are going to move and are looking for God to show us where" type of looking. I believe that it shouldn't be common knowledge...but the board needs time to prepare.

Thanks for your comments. :)
Cindi H.

[Dave McClung]

Some of us do care about that kind of thing, and no, I've not been asked to candidate - a term I dislike, but that is being used more frequently now.

The laymen always want to know, but that doesn't mean that we should know. As a general rule, people always want to know as much as they can about everything; however, in most cases confidentiality is for the benefit of those who are kept in the dark.

I think every pastor has to decide for himself. For example, my sister-in-law's pastor traveled several hundred miles to interview at a Nazarene Church on another district in a different state. He tried to keep it secret from the members of his church. Guess what. It was my brother's church. It is impossible to keep secrets in the Church of the Nazarene.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Cindi,

I agree with you that is okay for a pastor, who is deliberately looking for a move, to tell his board.

But if calls come to pastors who are not looking, it should be kept private until worked through.

I agree with Dave....it is impossible to keep it secret, and it is for the benefit of those who are kept in the dark. It is better for the unity of the church and the pastor/congregation relationship.

We have been there. I had gallbladder surgery when Steve was 8 weeks old. Two weeks after surgery we had a 10 day revival and no one in that small church helped me with my baby. I was worn out.

So, John called the board and told them we were taking a week's vacation the next week to go visit our families where I could get some rest and let the grandmas take care of the baby.

While we were gone, one lady decided we were off looking for a new pastorate. She spread that. Then, John gave up his Sunday School class, and that was another "sign" we were leaving.

People began watching for more signs, waiting for a resignation to be read and making a list of things John was doing wrong.

3 months later, at a board meeting, they started shredding him about picky things like the lawn was not being mowed enough and good enough. Finally someone asked him if he was leaving.

That was 30 years ago.

Some people, who hear that their pastor is interviewing somewhere else, will have him on his way out the door before the interview takes place and be thinking about who their next pastor will be.

AND, board members do not always keep things in confidence, even when instructed to.....I have been there, too.

Barb

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

i agree with Dave's post - it is rare for someone to say, "You don't have to tell me any information."

i think rather the important question is: Is it professional?

i miss protocol. Protocol should be respected, in my opinion. If you happen to find out about something - don't tip the hat - let protocol take place. Just know that you are in the loop to know for a reason - like prayer.

[Bruce Carriker]

This is only for those of you who are not pastors and never have been:

When you take a day of vacation or personal time to interview for another job, do you tell your current employer? Do you announce at the staff meeting, "I sent my resume to ten prospective employers yesterday."

If you don't do that, and don't think your employer needs to know, why should the pastor's employer (the congregation) feel like they have a right to be treated any differently?

[Carol Kane]

Thank you Bruce, well said:basic03

[Bruce Carriker]

It should not be impossible to respect confidentiality, even where family is involved. A board that is in the search process has absolutely no business informing anyone other than their DS who it is they have interviewed, or are planning to interview. Churches DO look at their pastor differently if he interviews somewhere else. They assume that he is leaving, if not now, then as soon as something else comes along. It makes it very difficult for the board and the pastor to do any serious vision-casting, long-term planning, etc. In effect, in most cases, it ends the effective ministry of the pastor.

I always tell people interviewing me (whether secular or clerical) that they may contact my references (who I trust implicitly, or they wouldn't be my references). If they ask to contact my present employer/church, I tell them they are only free to do so if they are otherwise prepared to offer me a position/extend a call. If not, they have no need to inform my present boss/church that I'm out looking around.

[Barbara Moulton]

It should not be impossible to respect confidentiality, even where family is involved. A board that is in the search process has absolutely no business informing anyone other than their DS who it is they have interviewed, or are planning to interview.

I was wondering that when I read Dave's response. I thought board interviews were confidential until the board recommended a candidate to the church for a vote.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Barbara,

They are suppose to be, but that does not mean they are. So many times someone tells a brother or aunt in another state who tells someone else by email, etc.

There is always someone from within the congregation oranother church who asks, "How is the pastoral search coming?" and someone tells them.

There is proper procedure and ethics, but that does not mean everyone sticks to it.

John received a call from a D.S. while he was at pastor's retreat at our campgrounds one year. I told the D.S. John would be home at 2 the next day and then called John and told him he needed to be home at 2 the next day. John left the meeting early telling our D.S. in front of a few other pastors that he had to leave for home early because he was expecting a long distance call.

A few weeks later John got a call from another pastor on the district asking him where we were moving to. John said, "when you find out, would you let me know?"

All John did was talk to this D.S. on the phone and turn him down.

Fellow pastors are just as bad as laymen and board members for spreading the news.

Barb

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

Our pastor has promised me (board secretary) that he will let us (board) know if/when he begins to look elsewhere for another church. I agree with him wholeheartedly. Now, I don't necessarily agree that it should be common knowledge to the congregation until he would accept a position elsewhere.

I am really intrigued by some of the comments in various threads about how pastoral succession should be handled. Laypersons in general, seem to see a need to know, or at least be prepared for the time when the pastor leaves so that they can be ready to start looking elsewhere. Yet, it seems that many of the pastors/family seem to see a need for the church to have no idea until the resignation is made. Especially if the pastor has been in a position for a longer period of time, why would there be such a willingness to drop this in the laps of the congregation that they have (I hope) loved? I have even seen pastors resign and tell the congregation that their last Sunday would be the next week! I understand the issues on both sides of the argument, and realize it is more complicated that my simple thoughts on the issue. Every church/pastor has a unique situation with unique requirements.

Here's my thought on the matter. If a pastor is starting to actively look for another church, his church board needs to know right then...not after he has accepted another position. This way, the pastor can help that board start planning for how they will look for another. The pastor can then help them to build a bridge between the two pastors. On the other hand, I also think the board should be upfront and honest with the pastor about their feelings on the whole issue. I think 90% of the conflict between pastor and board/congregation is due to poor communication, rumours and inuendo. This would be a situation strictly between pastor and board...not the congregation in general.

Well, anyways, I have to be off to school. I'm sure there will be rotten fruit heaved my way while I am gone. Oh well.

Cindi H.

Edited to add, it can be even more important when the pastoral family holds many jobs in the church that will need replaced. I know that when our pastor decides to move on, it will be a heavy burden on me. Not only am I the board secretary, I will also have to start acting as the church pianist in addition to the already heavy load of responsibilities that I have. So, it isn't just the pastor's job that will need filled. CH


Cindi - fair questions.

i think that if the people who sit within the pews (board members included) had a higher reputation for not turning on the pastor and his family - if he looked somewhere else - they wouldn't feel the need to keep it quiet. Too, many times a board will simply quit following the leadership of the pastor - if he is looking. i have likened the relationship to a guy and a mistress before - and whether we like it or not - many times that is what it is. If the mistress feels she is being replaced - she quits.

Sometimes 'to interview' isn't to be looking as much as to concrete the will of where you are planted.

i remember when Kansas City First Church was interviewing - without exception - each one who candidated with us moved to another location within the year. Kansas City First Church has connections worldwide. The hot gossip at that time.

One - in particular - who interviewed there was having a wonderful ministry where he was planted. He really didn't want to interview. The pressure from the ones at Kansas City First Church was very high. You have to understand - First Church also spells 'headquarters'. His ministry became a mess after he interviewed with us. i have often wondered if he forever regrets that interview.

i suppose this is why i have likened it to protocol. i don't know that there are easy answers on either side of the coin - and it is very easy for me to speak today when we are not interviewing and not planning on it.

[Barb Bouldrey]

One thing we need to notice here is that those who are in pastoral positions are saying it is best to keep interviewing private, but that is not always possible.

If we were in a situation where the board and John together decided it was best if John looked for a new pastorate, then things must be pretty bad. Everyone would know something was wrong.

If things were really bad and John felt it was best that he look for a new pastorate, I am not sure he would tell them, even then.

Now, if John was the cause of the bad situation, it might relieve the board to know he realized it and was willing to move on.

But the "voice of experience" expressed so far in this thread shows the harm that can be done to a congregation, to a pastor, and to pastoral/congregation relationships if a congregation finds out their pastor has interviewed somewhere else, or wants to.

Barb

[Sara Sheppard]

This is only for those of you who are not pastors and never have been:

When you take a day of vacation or personal time to interview for another job, do you tell your current employer? Do you announce at the staff meeting, "I sent my resume to ten prospective employers yesterday."

If you don't do that, and don't think your employer needs to know, why should the pastor's employer (the congregation) feel like they have a right to be treated any differently?

Actually, if I post for a position anywhere within the organization that I currently work for (even in another state), then I must tell my current manager. I will not be allowed to interview for another position within this organization without their signature. I would think the general church would be similiar to a large organization in terms of that. I'm also required to tell them if I interview with a client of ours.

However, if I go to a totally outside company with no relationship to ours, then I am not forced to tell them. However, I can be terminated if they find out...no other reason needed. So...its a risk people take.

I would think that the church might ought to be similiar. If the pastor is interviewing at another Nazarene church (within the organization) then they should tell someone (maybe their current DS or maybe their board..not sure who but someone).

I'm not sure what the best answer would be. I certainly don't think an entire congregation needs to know everytime a pastor interviews.

On a separate note, I prefer when pastoral recall is left to the congregation and not just the board.....for multiple reasons.;)

Sara

[Bruce Carriker]

Sara,

The better analogy to the set of facts you use would be: If you want to quit teaching Sunday School so you can take over a small group focused on missions, should you tell the Sunday School superintendent before you commit to the NWMS director?

Each church is a separate entity.

[Billy Cox]

If your pastor is candidating at another church, how does it effect your feelings toward him/her? Obviously, situations differ, but if you felt things were on a pretty even keel in your church, how unsettling would it be?

Some of us do care about that kind of thing, and no, I've not been asked to candidate - a term I dislike, but that is being used more frequently now.

Until the pastor is leaving for sure, I would rather not know...and laypeople who want lots of notice don't realize what they are asking for. I don't really want a lame duck pastor, and I sure don't want a lame duck congregation. Everything shifts into neutral, nothing can be started until the new pastor arrives, which could be several months.

[Sara Sheppard]

Sara,

The better analogy to the set of facts you use would be: If you want to quit teaching Sunday School so you can take over a small group focused on missions, should you tell the Sunday School superintendent before you commit to the NWMS director?

Each church is a separate entity.

Actually many of ours are separate legal entities too...there is a pretty fluid line there but its just a requirement within the overall organization. The question I was answering was if lay people have to tell their employers and sometimes we do!

Sara

[Joel Merrill]

I don't mind if my pastor does that. He has a right to do that. But I don't want to know about it and I don't think it would be wise for him to tell anyone.

Joel

[Marsha Lynn]

Yes, because I don't like being blindsided. It's a real sock in the gut to come to church one day and have the pastor with whom you were discussing plans for next month yesterday resign today. There's a sense that s/he has been living a lie during the entire interviewing process and you were among those s/he deceived.

No, unless everyone knows. I am sensitive to the insider/outsider dichotomy. When the church gossip comes to me the day of the pastor's resignation, having heard nary a word about it, and asks me if I knew (checking to see who was 'in' while s/he was 'out'), I want to be able to say, "No. I didn't know any more than you did."

I disagree with those who think the board (the insiders) should know but not the common people (the outsiders). Then, instead of just the pastor and family duping the church into thinking that the relationship is going to continue when it isn't, you have the entire board in on the deception. Does Mr/Ms Board Member tell his/her spouse? Parents? Siblings? Good friends? How tight or loose is the circle of those in the know? Should only those who can be trusted to keep the secret be told? What if keeping news that big to themselves is beyond the ability of one of the board members? Should board members speak untruths if asked pointblank questions about the pastor's plans by those outside the circle?

To me, the best case is when I get no official notice but am observant enough to notice the change in the wind. That way I'm not blindsided when the resignation happens but I can truthfully tell those who ask me that I did not know ahead of time.

That's an unrealistic expectation, I realize, but it did work last time for me. I wasn't expecting a resignation that Sunday morning, but I was aware, without being told, that there was a good possibility of it happening soon. It still hit me hard but the magnitude of the shock was greatly lessened because it wasn't totally unexpected. For several months, I had avoided asking questions that would have forced my pastor to choose between speaking an untruth or telling me what others didn't know.

We've only had one pastor in my history with the church inform the board of an interview (at a church too close to escape grapevine feedback). He didn't move at the time, but I think it was definitely the beginning of the end. He never recovered the confidence of the people in the relationship.

Marsha

[Belinda Y. Edwards]

There's a sense that s/he has been living a lie during the entire interviewing process and you were among those s/he deceived.

Marsha

Wow - that is a hard hit.

Garry doesn't do board meetings like that anyway - (i don't think) - i'm not there but i've lived with him for a while now.

Never should a church be making a decision for next month *cough*.......a church should always be looking six months to a year down the road. If the church has a vision and a focus - it should stay on track through the intern and that will help the board and congregation in selecting a pastor that fits their church.

If your church and the people following are looking down the road - he isn't living a lie at all. Plans need to be made for the intern, anyway. Or - are you saying that in your church - when your pastor leaves - all plans are put on hold until the new one comes in with their bag of tricks.

[Bruce Carriker]

Actually many of ours are separate legal entities too...there is a pretty fluid line there but its just a requirement within the overall organization. The question I was answering was if lay people have to tell their employers and sometimes we do!

Sara

Think outside the organization. I don't know who you work for...don't care...but I'm guessing its not Boeing. Now, if you wanted to go to Seattle or Wichita or St Louis and interview with Boeing, does your present employer have any RIGHT to know that?

[Bruce Carriker]

We've only had one pastor in my history with the church inform the board of an interview (at a church too close to escape grapevine feedback). He didn't move at the time, but I think it was definitely the beginning of the end. He never recovered the confidence of the people in the relationship.

Marsha

This is EXACTLY why no one needs to know. A pastor who wound up staying had his ministry effectively ruined because he interviewed somewhere else.

[Bruce Carriker]

Let's put a different twist on this:

If there are members of the church who plan to try and force the pastor to resign, do they have an obligation to inform the rest of the congregation of their intentions?

[Marsha Lynn]

Let's put a different twist on this:

If there are members of the church who plan to try and force the pastor to resign, do they have an obligation to inform the rest of the congregation of their intentions?

Let's see. You have people in the church with enough influence to think they can force the pastor to leave -- people with leadership skills. Those people have strong enough negative feelings about the pastor to use their influence to end his ministry at the church. Leaders wanting the pastor gone. What are the chances that they could AVOID sharing their frustration with others in the congregation?

Those people might want to avoid sharing their intentions with the 'loyalists' in the church who might stir up support for the pastor, but they would certainly want to round up all the support for their side they could find.

Do they have an obligation to inform the 'friends of the pastor'? We're talking war here. What kind of warrior would send a message to the enemy camp telling them their intentions other than as an attempt to intimidate them?

So my answer is no. People who are preparing to send the pastor packing should probably not inform his/her supporters of their intentions.

Now, as to whether church people are ever justified in trying to force a pastor to resign for any reason short of moral failing, that's a whole nother question. I certainly couldn't ever justify it myself. I'm among those who would be better kept in the dark if such a move were afoot because I would be likely to launch a counterattack.

Marsha

[Sara Sheppard]

Think outside the organization. I don't know who you work for...don't care...but I'm guessing its not Boeing. Now, if you wanted to go to Seattle or Wichita or St Louis and interview with Boeing, does your present employer have any RIGHT to know that?

I guess I see moving from one Naz. church to another as being "within" the organization. I realize that might not be how we are legally setup...but that's just my view.

And in your question, if Boeing were a client of ours, yes I am bound to tell the organization I work for (I don't know if Boeing is a client or not). And they do consider it their right to know if I interview with someone else. They can terminate my employment if I interview elsewhere if they want too. We are not under any contract. So for employees in most markets, interviewing anywhere is risky. And you'd be surprised within the accounting industry in a city of about 1 million people how quickly you can be talking to a recruiter outside your organization and find out that he/she is the brother or sister of a manager at "your organization"..... I work for a very large, well organized business so its very hard to draw the line between our industry/organization and a church.

But, I still believe that a pastor should be asked to communicate with someone (I'm not sure who - the current DS or a HR type person at the local church) if they are going to interview at another Nazarene church. It is just my personal opinion. :)

Sara

[Barb Bouldrey]

A key phrase I caught in one of Marsha's posts is, " he never recovered the confidence of the people in the relationship."

That is a key reason that a pastor should not let people know he/she is going to interview. If God says, "no" or the congregational vote is not a good one, then there is no pastoral change coming.

It is very hard to always know beyond a doubt that God wants a pastor to interview. Sometimes there is just the sense of something that should be done in an effort to discover what God wants.

I do not see it as duping a congregation. It is business sense. It is phychologically and emotionally good sense.

When I was teaching school, I would never let the current principal know I was looking for a new position. If I did not find one, it would jepordize my current relationship with my principal.

The same is true for a pastor. We want to be where God wants us only as long as God wants us there. If a call comes and we feel led to interview and it does not work out, we do not want to hurt relationships within our current pastorate.

Any good pastor will help his/her current church plan for the future, whether he/she is there or not. The life of a church does not stop when a pastor leaves.

And, most calls to interview come, process and decide within a month. When we got the call to interview here at Sikeston First, we interviewed the next week and they voted on us 2 Sundays later...and we resigned. Less than a month.

We were sure this was God's will. At the same time, we helped our church at Iberia plan their new church directory and their 75th anniversary celebration that would take place 4 months after we left.

My husband has always been the pastor until the day he moves out of that town. He does not resign and ignore that church because he is packing.

It has always hurt my heart to know we were resigning and know it would hurt many other hearts to hear it. I did not want to hurt people we have loved so long, but love often hurts. We have to follow the call of God.

It would hurt them to know we were going to interview. It would hurt some to know that we HAD interviewed. And it hurts some when we resign. It is not a joyful experience for me, either.

Barb

[Bruce Carriker]

Sara,

I've said all along that the pastor has no obligation to anyone BUT the DS. The DS should know. The congregation doesn't need to know. As has been pointed out in numerous posts, pastors who interview elsewhere are immediately considered disloyal and are no longer welcome. Why should they be expected to put up with that?

Most employers have the right to fire an employee for any number of reasons, as Sara points out. That's why people go to extremes to keep news of interviews outside their present place of employment to a minimum. Consider the "rights" Sara's employer seems to think they have:

1. If you interview with someone else, we can fire you.
2. If you tell us about the interview, we can fire you.
3. If you don't tell us about the interview and we find out, we can fire you.

Given that set of facts, someone tell me how telling your employer is a better option than taking your chances with #3?

Employers frequently assume and lay claim to lots of rights they don't have. Do they have a right to fire you if you interview somewhere else? Absolutely. Do they have a right to know that you're interviewing somewhere else? Absolutely not.

[Pete Vecchi]

Idealistically, people should want to know so that they can pray that God will keep His call current on their pastor's life -- whether at his/her current pastorate or somewhere else. People also have to realize that ideally, if God calls a pastor somewhere else, God generally has another person He wants to call to the current congregations.

Realistically, pastors are human and might not hear God's call properly. Congregation members are human ad may think that their pastor's going to look at another congregation is some type of sense of dissatisfaction on the pastor's part.

So, I don't know that there is a "one-size-fits-all" answer to the question, because each situation is probably different.

[Pete Vecchi]

Employers frequently assume and lay claim to lots of rights they don't have. Do they have a right to fire you if you interview somewhere else? Absolutely. Do they have a right to know that you're interviewing somewhere else? Absolutely not.

In Ohio, there is an "Employment at Will" law, where any employer can let any employee go for any or no reason, and any employee can quit for any or no reason.

[Barbara Moulton]

In Ohio, there is an "Employment at Will" law, where any employer can let any employee go for any or no reason, and any employee can quit for any or no reason.

In Ontario and most of Canada, an employer can let an employee go for any or no reason as well. But if that employee has been with them for more than six months, compensation must be given.

[Barb Bouldrey]

Every time we change pastorates there are always people who ask:
"What was wrong?"
"I didn't know you were having problems. What problems?"
"I thought you were happy here. What happened?"

Most people do not understand the call of God.

John has been a "troubleshooter" pastor. We have followed men who have left the pastorate for one reason or another. We have followed a charismatic split. We have walked into pastorates where people were hurt, bleeding, embarassed publically and fearing that their church would not survive this recent pain. After a while (sometimes 7 or 15 years) God calls John to another hurting church.

It is not easy to leave a church you have loved deeply. But God calls and we follow.

As Pete said, there are no "one-size-fit-all" answers to this question.

Do people want to know is different that asking SHOULD the people know.

Barb