Comments on: Why Nepotism Hurts Organizations

By: Ginnygins

Ginnygins — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 17:07:00 +0000

Neptotism is rampant in the Church today.Nobody was really speaking about this issue, glad to read this article.

By: John2445

John2445 — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 13:23:00 +0000

I have worked for a ministry for 18 years and am becoming disillusioned with the nepotism that is evident to all. I have the same title as the pastor/director’s wife but not nearly the same privileges. I agree with Phil that it is very hard not to have resentment when everyone comments on the favoritism and the unfairness.

By: Simply Human

Simply Human — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:27:00 +0000

I am with rush and eyes on the prize on this one; the ministry is not a dynasty, it is a calling to serve. All parents want their children to do well and be successful. people can become enamored with the idea of their children following in their footsteps. Can you imagine how much stronger these two desires would be in someone who is spreading the words of Christ and bringing the message of grace to the lost. Wow, the TEMPTATION to misuse that power would be almost unbearable to resist. The ability to refuse placing someone you love as family in a position where they may be held in high regard in both the worlds of God and Man, and be financially successful requires more restraint than any man can be trusted to exercise. For this reason a pastor should not HIRE his family. If his family has a calling there are many, many avenues of service they can take with Jesus in their hearts and ultimately be in GREATER service than to simply hold a monopoly at the local church.

By: Truett Hancock

Truett Hancock — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Preach….

By: Dominique

Dominique — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Interesting subject matter….

By: John Stableman

John Stableman — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

Have you ever told a parent that "little Johnny" had bitten someone on the playground? Or told a lie to a teacher?

Too often, the parent reacts by coming to the defense of the child. The truth is not the issue, "protecting" their child is.

It gets worse when the playground is a ministry, and "little Johnny" has been given an office of authority unearned. Talented people are a threat, and are soon gone. Others live in fear of what will happen if they cross the new boss.

But as long as ministries are run by their founders as though they "own" the ministry, this will happen.

By: Bill Grandi (cycleguy)

Bill Grandi (cycleguy) — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I like your ideas Phil. To me the one that starts it all is the last one. Start them on the bottom. The only way to tell whether competence will be an issue as well as servanthood is by doing this. Otherwise, you can have an incompetent arrogant twit leading the company or ministry. And that spells disaster!

By: Gino

Gino — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

To me, nepotism within ministry demonstrates the greater problem of self-interest over actual service to the church. And considering how attitudes flow from the top-down, you are opening the door to many more problems when staff follows..

By: Eyes on the Prize

Eyes on the Prize — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I usually find your comments quite insightful, but must take exception to this one on nepotism. Your entire premise that this is a "given" , but just make sure that you start them at the bottom does not begin to address the pervasive problem of entitlement and birthright that is running rampant in the Church. Just because your father or mother or some other relative had a vision for ministry does not mean that you do. Most of these ministries were started with non-relatives, using their money, talent, sweat and tears to help it grow. But when your relatives come of age (since most of them were children when the ministry started), it is assumed that if there is a leadership position open that they will get it? Regardless of their abilities or qualifications for the job? Then you walk them through the job and give them resources to learn that you would never make available to non-relatives in that same position? Non-relatives are needed only as worker bees, while relatives are groomed to be queen-bees or "king" bees. We're talking ministry here - not private, family businesses.

If a "minister" wants to help relatives, there are countless for-profit ventures they can enter into without compromising the expressed purpose of the ministry by becoming self-serving and self preserving. Send them to school - on your dime. Better yet, send them somewhere to learn what their gifts are independent of you. Maybe then they will choose to come back with a greater understanding of how God wants to use them in life and not just in "daddy's church" or "momma's ministry".

Please keep it real Phil and delve beneath surface discussions - or don't address it at all.

By: Elizabeth Conley

Elizabeth Conley — Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000

I'm a parent now. Every time I read 1 Samuel I ponder the character and choices of Eli carefully. To the best of my understanding, Eli was a good man. Hannah entrusted Samuel to the priest, and it seems he cared for and guided the very young child well. Yet Eli's own sons were dreadful. Their flippant disregard for God gave grievous offense. They were punished for their transgressions, and Eli was punished as well for failing to correct them.

I often wonder, "Why were Hophni and Phinehas so bad? Did Eli indulge them too much or too little when they were young? Did his wife? What went wrong? Did Eli get something right in his training of Samuel that he didn't get right with his own sons? We don't know. What we do know is that Eli let them get away with contempt for God, the offerings, and the people of God who came to make those offerings. That resulted in God's wrath coming down on all three men.

Nepotism is scary stuff. If we put ourselves in that position, we're placing ourselves in a situation Eli failed to handle to God's satisfaction. Elii was a pretty good guy. What makes us so sure we can do better?

I'm typing without reading glasses again. Do I dare post this? Hope it's OK! Sorry if it isn't!