Solidarity Saves the Pastor

ESP Parishioners Prove a Blessing to Church Congregation

By Dave Arnold

I have several loves: family, Association, students, God. Linking the first three on this list is the God component. In fact, my spiritual relationship with God leads the way in all areas.

However, last spring when our pastor told our congregation that he was losing his license to preach, the Association cart got in front of the horse. That is, the Association component in my life helped lead the way for the God component.

During a performance evaluation, my pastor said he had a serious disagreement with the church leader over him. This leader decided to fire our pastor and remove his license. The congregation was devastated. He has been our pastor for more than 10 years. For many us, he is a part of our family.

Praying and Grieving

After much discussion, weeping, and praying, one of our congregation’s leaders and I explained to our congregation the procedure for filing a grievance. This would be Step #1 in getting our pastor back, he explained.

I have more than 10 years experience working with negotiation teams, political campaigns, and fundraising. I am the founding president of the Brownstown Education Support Professional (ESP) Association of Illinois. My fellow parishioner also happens to be an ESP and an Association president at a neighboring school.

We decided to use some old-fashioned Association know-how to get our pastor back. We followed through with our grievance, which was a new experience for the church official who dismissed our pastor. Upon a face-to-face meeting, the official effectively evaded every question with the finesse of a politician.

Lobbying and Organizing

So, we moved to Step #2. I conveyed to our congregation how ESP Associations across the country successfully lobby legislators with phone calls, letters, and petitions. I made up petitions and form letters for the church folks and then garnered signatures. We also made phone calls and sent e-mails and letters to other, higher-up, church officials.
ESP involved in grassroots campaigns know that this type of action often gets results.

The official who was removing our pastor met with him and decided that our pastor could stay another year. But the official said he was still going to revoke our pastor’s preaching license.

This was unacceptable, causing us to engage Step #3. We continued our lobbying and carried the campaign to the doorstep of our church’s highest-ranking official.

The official soon called for a church cabinet meeting stating that she was getting tired of all the letters, e-mails, and phone calls. The matter promptly received an investigation and review. This we liked.

Redemption

Our pastor came through with flying colors and will be staying with us indefinitely. He will receive no reprimands or disciplinary action. As for the official who had fired him, well, he was demoted and is being moved out of our district.

Association strategy saved our pastor and our congregation from coming undone. The one thing that our Association has taught me over the years is to stand up for what I believe in. I believe in prayer, but I also believe in doing my part to help the greater good.

The Bible says that when people pray in one accord they can move mountains. By adding solidarity and lobbying, my fellow parishioners removed a mountain.

(Dave Arnold, a member of the Illinois Education Association, is head custodian at Brownstown Elementary School in Southern Illinois.)

The views expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the NEA or its affiliates.