Firing Musicians

How To Let Go Of Your Employees In A Godly Manner

It naturally follows that if you are going to hire someone there is a possibility that you will have to fire them. Now as Christians we are not prohibited from firing people, it is not ungodly, however when you do fire someone you want to ensure that it is done in a way that will bring glory to God and not cause scandals and or divisions. As Christians we should be sensitive to how firing someone will impact an employee, impact the employee’s family and most importantly how it will impact the church!

Let’s look at some reasonable causes for firing of musicians within a church or a band:

• Breach of Contract
• Involvement in illegal acts
• Poor Performance
• Not reporting for duty

Having looked at the reasons the next thing is the issues you need to consider before you fire your church musician or band member (I call it a termination checklist)

• Justification for dismissal- the decision to fire someone should be based on objective facts and it is wise to put such facts in writing. This is especially so if the reason for firing is because of poor performance were you will need supporting documentation of performance appraisals, employee goals along with supervisor’s communication notes.
• Timing of dismissal – you cannot just remove someone from their job unless if it was an act that requires immediate removal in which case you will require solid evidence or else it becomes a messy court case.
• Communication of dismissal – Communicating that you have fired someone is probably one of the most complex and fragile things that an employer has to do as this is a life altering event for the employee. Also for us as Christians everything we do has to be done in love so the way you communicate that dismissal and your actions after that communication have to be in love. Furthermore you have to communicate to the staff, other band members, fans and the church about the termination. When you communicate the termination to everyone else do not lie as this is the fuel for gossip and a lack of respect from those who remain as they will be most likely aware of the events that led to the termination. Put everything out in the open so that the devil is not given any room. One thing the devil likes to ride on is a scandal so do not create one.
• Procedure for dismissal – people are just not fired, a procedure has to be followed. Unfortunately the people who head churches do not understand this and usually fire their staff not based on procedure but emotions and in the spur of the moment. This of cause has disastrous consequences. If it’s a big church that has a human resource department, that department should have a dismissal procedure in place. If you are just a worship leader who has contracted a band member you should consult with some experts and have a documented dismissal procedure with you. In developed nations this is not mostly an issue but in Africa a lot of haphazard things are done.
• The Labor laws of your nation

There are times when unjust decisions are carried out. If you are a church employee or a member of the band and you are fired unjustly there is reprieve for you in the law. I will look at the following cases:

• Constructive Dismissal

In employment law, constructive dismissal, also called constructive discharge, occurs when an employee resigns as a result of the employer creating a hostile work environment. Since the resignation was not truly voluntary, it is in effect a termination.

It is important to note that with constructive dismissal the employer does not dismiss the employee but the employers conduct is such that no reasonable employee can be expected to put up with it i.e the employee is left with no other option but to resign.

Constructive dismissal is hard to prove though and the employee has to prove beyond a shadow of a reasonable doubt that this was the case.

• Unfair Dismissal

Unfair dismissal is a term in labour law to describe an act of employment termination      without good reason, or contrary to the country’s specific legislation.

I will dwell more on this one. This is very common in churches and Christian bands as many decisions are made based on feelings and sometimes erroneous doctrine with no regards whatsoever to the laws of a nation, objective judgement or the employee’s welfare.

As an employee this is what you have to do if it’s unfair dismissal. You have to notify your employer/supervisor/ the HR Department of the act. I advise you to use an email that you can then use as evidence in the labor court if the matter fails to be resolved. With church things we don’t want to be taking one another to court, it’s a poor witness to the world but if your employer is unreasonable you will be left with no choice especially if it’s done by your leadership who you should go to for arbitration. 1 Corinthians 6:1-8 lets us know

Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters?Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one that shall be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goeth to law with brother, and that before the unbelievers. Now therefore there is utterly a fault among you, because ye go to law one with another. Why do ye not rather take wrong? why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded? Nay, ye do wrong, and defraud, and that your brethren.

If your leadership is the one which perpetrates the illegal act then it is not wrong for you to seek an arbitrator of your issue outside of the church as Romans 13:1-4 lets us know that rulers are not a terror to good.

Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same:For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.