The circumstances are all very unique, but the details really do not matter anymore.  Small churches, large churches, urban churches, suburban churches, rural churches, famous churches, obscure churches, and churches from all denominations have had to face the sudden loss of their senior pastor or key staff member.  And too often the sudden separation is caused by a personal failure of the pastor.

When a church leader falls and he must leave his post, there are resources now available to help him and his family experience healing and restoration.  It’s not always been that way, but thankfully organizations exist to help displaced pastors find their way back to health and usefulness.

Fallen pastors need help, but First Aid is for the church.  If the church is the Bride of Christ, then how is she to respond to the failure of her most trusted leaders?  When there is an unexpected vacancy in key leadership, the church family is left with big issues to address.  Who is going to lead?  What is the next step?  What should the people know or not know?  And the list goes on.

Then there are emotional and spiritual needs that often blind us.  People begin asking questions like, “How could this happen?” “Who knew and when?” “How long has this been happening?” “Were there warning signs we missed?” How these questions and others are answered makes a world of difference and can mean success or failure in the short term.  And ultimately how leaders respond to these questions will affect the long-term DNA of the church.

Behind all of these questions and concerns is the feeling of betrayal.  Loyal supporters are hurt.  Skeptics are validated.  Employees are angry.  Children are confused.  The church family becomes quickly fractured by conflicting emotions based on known facts as well as unclear and incomplete information.  Everything the leader has said is now under scrutiny that did not exist before.  His motives and judgment are now suspicious.  The sense of betrayal is real and not easily consoled.

This situation may be a cliché, but this is new ground for many churches.  These are unfamiliar and unexpected leadership challenges.  But  healing and health are closer than we think.  God gives grace.  He shows us how to forgive.  He raises up new leaders for the new challenge.  And despite the real changes that are now taking place, a better future is possible.  But it requires action.

While losing a pastor can be discouraging and even shocking, spiritual leaders do not allow the circumstances to paralyze or distract them from the work.  Actually, leaders thrive on challenges.  They see a problem and quickly plan how to solve the problem.  They cast a vision and take clear action steps toward that vision.  While the problems associated with a sudden separation are real, so are the solutions.

So First Aid was written to provide personal encouragement and practical wisdom to help churches respond to the sudden separation between pastor and people.  Good decisions now produce immediate help and long-term healing.

If your church has recently faced a sudden separation, First Aid is a resource that can help.  Order your copy here.