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What Happens When A Staff Member Falls

DearSaddlebackMemberIn2007,Iplantowriteyouseveraltimestohelpyouunderstandsomeofthebehind-the-scenesproceduresandstrategiesofourchurchfamily.InthisletterIwanttoexplainwhathappenswhenastaffmemberatSaddlebackmustberemovedbecauseofsomesin.

TAKINGTHEINITIATIVE

(Proverbs28:13)Ifastaffmembervoluntarilyconfessestome,ortoourStaffPastor(BobBaker),andrepentsbeforebeingfoundout,BoborIcounselthatpersonprivately.Dependingontheviolation,theymaybeallowedtoremainonstaffwhilerecovering.Ifastaffmemberdoesnottaketheinitiative,theyaresuspendedfromstaffimmediatelywhiletheeldersconsidertheirsituation.Ifastaffmembercontinuestolieabouttheirsin,theyarefiredimmediately.

WHOISTOLD?

(1Cor.5:11-13)Sinistobeconfessedonlyaswidelyasitaffectsothers.PrivatesinrequiresonlyprivateconfessiontoGod.Personalsinthatinvolvesothersrequiresinterpersonalconfessiontothepeopleinvolved.Publicsins(thosethataffectalargegroupofpeopleinourcongregation)regrettablymustbedealtwithpubliclyasawarningtoothers.TheBiblesaysthatthosewhoteachareheldtoagreaterpublicaccountabilitybecauseoftheirvisibilitytothosetheyteach.(James3:1,1Tim.5:20)Childrenhaveafragilefaithandoftenidolizetheirleaders.Parentsshouldbecarefulnottotalkaboutfallenstaffinfrontofchildrensotheydon’tloseheart.Ifasked,youshouldsimplysay“Theyresigned,”That’sallchildrenneedtoknow.

RESTORATION

(Gal.6:1)Thegoalofchurchdisciplineistherestorationofaperson’slife,marriage,andpossiblyministry.Thisishopeandprayer,butitisnotanautomaticconclusion.Ourchurchhasaspecificrestorationprocesswhichincludes1)confessionandrestitution2)counselingandtesting,3)regularaccountabilitytoagroupofpastors,4)prayer,5)refrainingfromministrytofocusonmaturity,6)strengtheningcharacterandmarriage,7)BiblestudyandScripturememorization,and8)rebuildingandprovingcredibility.Thefallenstaffmembermusthumblycooperatewithourrestorationprocesswhichmaylastuptoayearorlonger.RestorationdoesnotmeanbeingrestoredtothestaffofSaddleback.Thatwouldnotbe bestfortheformerstaffmemberorthevolunteerworkersinthatministry.Weareahigh-visibility,fast-movingcongregation.Aftertherestorationprocessisfinished,wewouldwanttoseethatpersonslowlyre-enterministryinalessvisiblechurchwithsmallerdemands.Usuallyafterrestoration,thepersonre-entersadifferenttypeofministrythantheonetheyledbeforetheirfall.Thisisbecauseourmosteffectiveministryalwayscomesoutofourowndeepesthurtsandexperiences.

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05 / 21 / 2011This doucment made it onto the Rising List!