Hiring the Son of an Elder

New Podcast Released July 1, 2024

Click on the picture below or the following link to listen to the first episode of Gleaning Mustard Seeds: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2369804

Click on the picture above or the following link to listen to the first episode of Gleaning Mustard Seeds: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2369804

Question

I was wondering what your experience/advice would be when either a son or son-in-law seeks a minister position where their father or father-in-law is serving as an elder.

Questions to consider:

  1. What has been the relationship of this elder and his wife with his son and his wife and children?
  2. Would you be inviting this person to serve in the congregation because he is the best of the candidates considered or because he is the son of an elder?
  3. Will you check references or think it’s unnecessary because you know him? I recommend checking references (those he submits and others the candidate doesn’t submit), a criminal background check, and a credit check. I don’t work with a church until they do those on me.
  4. How do all the elders feel about this relationship? Does this eldership have the practice of “speaking the truth in love” on difficult issues or do they say nothing when they have doubts or disagreements for the sake of “keeping the peace”? If it’s the latter, there will probably be difficult days ahead.
  5. How do the members feel about this person in this position? Will they be given an opportunity for evaluation and feedback after the tryout?
  6. How does the prospective minister handle criticism? Will he welcome it and profit from it or get defensive, communicating to the people who would criticize him that he doesn’t need or doesn’t want suggestions for improvement? This can happen because that’s what I did for the first twenty years of my ministry.
  7. How will the eldership and minister handle criticism about this minister? Will you follow Matthew 18:15- 17, or will the elders accept criticism about the minister, then go to the minister and try to get him to change to make the criticizers happy?
  8. How will you handle evaluations? Will you have none for fear of offending the minister and father? Will the related elder excuse himself because of a possible conflict of interest?
  9. How will you handle cost-of-living adjustments and merit raises? Will the related elder excuse himself because of a possible conflict of interest? Will these adjustments be reduced or delayed because of anticipated criticism or handled as with any other preacher?
  10. Will you write these agreements, hold the group accountable, and allow adequate time for discussion before changing any of them?

This arrangement can and does work in congregations. Like other elder-preacher relationships, it requires spiritually mature elders and preachers.

What suggestions do you have for a church facing this question? What has been your experience?

Thank you to everyone who took the time to make suggestions. I have followed your request and scheduled episodes to be uploaded at 1:00 a.m. each Monday. I have recorded seven episodes. Please respond and make suggestions on how to improve. This is my first. I’m learning.

Hear the first episode of Gleaning Mustard Seeds by clicking on the link: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/2369804

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Jerrie Barber
Servant of Jesus, husband to Gail, father to Jerrie Wayne Barber, II and Christi Parsons, grandfather, great-grandfather, Interim Preacher, Shepherd coach, Ventriloquist, barefoot runner, ride a cruiser bicycle

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