his rationale. He did not share with the “I had my opportunity when I walked
people about his evolving preaching in the worship center that morning,” he
style.
began.
He just did it.
And he paid a great price.
“Because I was so focused on myself,
I had that visceral reaction. I cried
out, ‘Who Moved My Pulpit?!’ I should
have taken time to admit my errors
that morning, and to share with the
congregation why I changed the
pulpits.”
I anticipated his conversation about
the aftermath. He confirmed it. “Yep,
I really blew it in the days and weeks
that followed,” he confessed. “I was
getting beaten up on social media, by
e-mail, in meetings, and by telephone.
Man, church members can really be
mean. But instead of leading, I went
into emotional retreat.”
That brings us to the fifth failure Derek
acknowledged.
Fourth Failure: Not Dealing with People Fifth Failure: Not Modeling Positive
Issues
Leadership
“If I had to assess my biggest blunder,”
Derek shared, “it would be my failure to
deal with people issues. I messed up on
the front end, in the middle, and in the
aftermath.”
“I was ready to leave the church,” he
told me emphatically. “Make no mistake
about it. I wanted out!”
Well, my conversation with Derek
was two years after the incident. He
Though I thought I knew where he was obviously did not leave. I was curious
headed with this discussion, I asked to know more.
him to elaborate.
“My attitude stunk for about three
“I did not get buy-in on the front end,” months,” he admitted. “I wanted out,
he responded. “I know who our key and I was mad at my church. I went into
influencers are in the church. I just a mode of pouting and withdrawal.
bulldozed ahead.” Derek then told
me where he fell short further in the “Toward the end of that third month,” he
process.
said, “I was reading Nehemiah in my quiet
time. I became aware, painfully aware,
42 • Solutions