childrensministry.com: Ready! Aim! You're Fired!

3/9/2010 7:50:46 AM
braincramptouzel said: Boy did I need this this week. I have a situation where there is a moral issue involved. Thanks for the encouragement and insight!

3/9/2010 2:15:56 AM
dave.j said: Great article, overall, but I feel the title is too harsh. With our current economy, especially, people are constantly being terminated from employment... or fired. As a church, we should be a little more supportive, in both our actions and our wording. I agree with dshuman1002 that taking a pastoral approach to the volunteer's growth is a better way to approach such a difficult, but necessary, action (whenever possible). Helping someone grow is the Christian way to go. Obviously, this may or may not include a different position working with children and youth. We should be clear about the termination or leave of absence, but not cast off the person from the flock. I have found over the years that many instances where a volunteer is not working out is due to a lack of screening or training, rather than something the person is doing on purpose. If we, as ministers, have accurate position descriptions and are upfront about the expectations, it is much easier to build a quality program. People live up to whatever expectation that is held. If you are looking for a warm body to fill a position... that's all you will get. If you are looking for a Christ-filled person that is willing and able to share a passion for Christ, you will find them, too. The latter may benefit from (and appreciate) some training and support while the former will probably only be willing to stick around in the same capacity as they started. Whenever I have to ask a volunteer to change positions, rededicate to a position or end their service, I take a long look at how our program has allowed them to get to that place. Quite often it's not the fault of the volunteer, but the complacency of the leaders, myself included.

3/4/2010 2:13:54 PM
gaye said: Although I do believe that your comment Teachers who throw away your church's curriculum in order to teach "what I want" are setting a dangerous precedent. is correct, that is the throwing away of curriculum. It costs mega bucks for churches to buy those books. What I am seeing is that that many of today's curriculum is targeted at entertainment and not teaching the scriptures...we need to move away from entertainment to teaching the Word and that only...and that is why we need more teacher training so that our teachers are capable of knowing "how to study" and "how to execute a lesson". I wonder how many teachers know how to do a true inductive study method. We do not need more glossies , what we need are teachers that are able to study and exegete the scriptures with accuracy. These curriculums are huge profit making machines in my opinion (note my opinion). Let's put the $$ into training and move away from this and into properly teaching our children doctrine. At www.bible.org we have many resources that are available for teachers of all ages. What I am pleased about Group is that you are striving to get accountability and that is worth more than any glossy print publication. Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading your posts and have bookmarked some for my teachers on bible.org.

3/4/2010 1:22:47 PM
dshuman1002 said: Instead of "firing" I talked to the volunteer about a leave of absence until things straightened around in her life and she could devote her time and attention to her class in a more positive way. She acknowledged that she seemed to have put her spiritual life on a back burner and she knew it was showing in her faithfulness. I love her as a Christian sister, I didn't want to see her removed, I want to see her restored.