Revitalizing a Church: Why You Must Weed Out the Negativity

For any church looking to revitalize and breathe new life into its ministry, few things can be as toxic and detrimental as negativity from staff members. A negative, critical, and resistant attitude from those tasked with leading the church can quickly derail even the most well-intentioned efforts at revitalization. Negativity breeds further negativity, sows seeds of doubt, destroys morale, and ultimately strangles the life out of a church. If you want to bring revival to your congregation, one of the first and most crucial steps is identifying and removing negative voices from church leadership and staff.

The Dangers of a Negative Mindset

It's easy to underestimate just how destructive unchecked negativity can be within the church context. A negative attitude, left to fester, rapidly metastasizes into a cynical, self-defeating mentality that rejects anything new or that requires effort and sacrifice. This toxic negativity manifests itself in many ways:

•Persistent complaints and criticism rather than solutions
•Reluctance to embrace change or new initiatives
•Focusing only on problems rather than opportunities
•Pessimism and expecting the worst rather than hoping for the best
•Gossiping, sowing drama, and undermining unity
•Failing to take responsibility and shifting blame

When you have staff members operating from this type of mindset, revitalization becomes an uphill battle from the start. Their constant negativity demoralizes other staff and volunteers, alienates congregants, prevents progress, and creates a stifling atmosphere of toxicity that chokes out any chance for new life and growth to take root.

These negative voices become anchors weighing the church down rather than wind in its sails propelling it forward. And make no mistake - negativity spreads like a virus if allowed to go unchecked. One deeply pessimistic, oppositional staff member can infect an entire team if their negativity is not swiftly contained and ultimately removed.

The Biblical Case for Pruning Negativity

From a biblical perspective, tolerating persistent negativity and opposition within church leadership goes against clear scriptural teachings. Jesus Himself said, "Every plant that my heavenly Father did not plant will be pulled up by the roots" (Matthew 15:13). Similarly, the Apostle Paul instructed Titus to "avoid a divisive person after a first and second correction. For you know that such a person has gone astray and sins, being self-condemned" (Titus 3:10-11).

Churches are intended to be life-giving sources of hope, unity, and spiritual nourishment for believers. Divisive, negative influences sabotage that purpose and ultimately damn a church to stagnation or decline if allowed to spread. As difficult as it may be, church leaders have a responsibility to identify and remove negativity from their ranks - pruning the dead branches, so to speak, so that the church plant can thrive and bear good fruit once again.

Making the Difficult Decision

Of course, removing a negative staff member is much easier said than done, especially in smaller churches where staff may have been in their roles for years or even decades. It may feel like cutting off your own arm to part ways with a long-term employee. But revitalization and faithfulness to Scripture often require making difficult decisions in the short-term for the long-term health of the church body.

The process should never be impulsive or done out of mere frustration, but rather an intentional last resort after all other efforts at correction have been exhausted. Here are some recommended steps when dealing with a negative, oppositional staff member undermining revitalization efforts:

1. Clearly document and build a case chronicling their negative behaviors, actions, and attitudes. Gut feelings aren't enough - you need clear patterns of verified issues.

2. Meet with them privately and directly address the negativity, citing specific examples. Explore the root causes, get their perspective, and give them an opportunity to self-correct.

3. If the negativity continues, issue an explicit warning that failure to change course will result in termination. Set a reasonable timeline for demonstrating real improvement.

4. Consult church bylaws, handbooks, and possibly attorneys to understand proper employment protocols for terminations. Follow processes carefully.

5. Terminate employment if negativity persists, undermining church unity and the revitalization efforts. This should only occur after ample opportunities for correction.

6. Communicate simply that the individual's employment was terminated due to "inability to align with the church's new direction and mission." Avoid defamation but stand firm.

7. Replace the staff member with someone embracing a positive, energetic attitude aligned with revitalization. Changing team culture is vital.

While removing a negative staff member is hard, it protects the church's ability to move forward. As John Maxwell says, "An undisciplined person can undermine the culture you've worked so hard to establish and derail everything you're trying to accomplish." For the sake of reviving your church's mission, you may have to make the tough call.

Thriving on Life-Giving Positivity

Perhaps more importantly than removing negative influences, church leadership must be intentional about fostering positivity throughout the staff and congregation at large. Positivity and optimism help drive needed change rather than resisting it. It empowers and energizes rather than demoralizes.

Leaders set the tone, so they must model and champion a culture of positivity as new initiatives roll out. Celebrate small wins, affirm steps in the right direction, and cast contagious vision for a brighter future. Replace complaints with gratitude. Turn problems into opportunities for growth and solution-finding. Maintain hopeful expectations and refuse to let temporary setbacks define the narrative.

Most of all, point people consistently to the ultimate source of life-giving joy and positivity in the Lord. As Nehemiah 8:10 states, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." When a church keeps their eyes steadfastly fixed on the hope of the gospel, positivity has a chance to take root and negativity gets starved of oxygen.

For any church in need of revitalization, few things are as vital as shutting the door on negativity and ushering in an atmosphere of life-giving optimism, unity, and forward-focused momentum. While it requires tough decisions and spiritual fortitude, removing toxic negativity from the leadership room is a critical step in allowing your church to bloom and flourish once again.