Please add my voice to those of others who are concerned that there is no appeal process available to a pastor who has been removed from a congregation by questionable means and motives. It is both short sighted and wrong to disregard the experience and spiritual gifts of church workers who have been deprived of their career, and their opportunities for full time service, by congregations who may have acted selfishly in dismissing these servants. That the possibility isn't even considered the basis for a review, formal investigation or intervention is baffling in a church body which preaches grace, forgiveness and love to its members.

In my district, there was supposed to be a team of "peacemakers" that would counsel with congregations racked by internal conflict. But when that conflict included the removal of the pastor from office, none of the "peacemakers" could be found to pursue the case. My case was not the only one at the time to suffer this fate; another doctor of the church, and former professor at a Synodical university, was set aside at the same time in the same way. Neither of us has had a full time position in over 10 years. In the face of the claim of congregational sin, district officials appear reluctant to look analytically at the claims of a congregation. Personnel records are locked away from access by the dismissed pastor. In the long run, the failure of the structure to exercise Christ-like discernment is more damaging than the offense that brought about the trouble in the first place.

All these things are the opposite of what one would expect where God's gifts are recognized and treasured. The rush to negative judgment without benefit of a fair hearing, the resultant rejection (black balling) of the accused merely on the basis of accusation, supporting the stigmatizing of the accused with the result that he is denied further opportunity for full time service, these are abuses unbefitting the Body of Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew our Lord has harsh words for those who claim to know him but act as if they do not (Matt 10 and 25; Mt 7:21). Let us look again at how much, or little, of the mind of Christ is shown by our attention to fair treatment of the accused.