SagePage/FAQ Listing > When you can't be an advocate

A Christian leader once expressed his measure of advocacy for a pastor this way: "I will defend you as long as you give me room to stand with you." Accountability for our actions is an essential in Christian leadership. Even when a pastor makes a mistake, when acknowledged it goes a long way in maintaining credibility--both with the congregation and with administration. You can and should freely advocate for him/her.

The challenge for a Ministerial Director comes when a pastor is blind to his/her faults. Despite attempts to help him/her see and acknowledge some realities, and if he/she becomes defensive and digs in deeper, it can then be difficult to advocate for him/her and may require that some change will have to be recommended.

There are other circumstances beyond job performance, such as a moral fall or theological erring, that reduce our ability to advocate for a pastor. However even in more extreme situations such as these a Ministerial Director can be in a position to give some personal support through a transition that may be appreciated and help to save a relationship with the church over time.

Bryce Pascoe, former Dakota Conference Ministerial Director