Handling Negligent and Sloppy Workers in the Church

Sloppy and negligent workers in the church should be kindly admonished and instructed, but if they refuse to improve or remain shiftless and opinionated, they must be dismissed from the work to prevent the cause of God from being misrepresented or hinderedChL 66.1+3.

The Responsibility of Leadership

Church officers and conference presidents have a solemn duty to oversee the work and ensure it is done with faithfulness and efficiencyCS 106.3+2. It is not the order of God for conferences to spend means employing extra laborers to "pick up the dropped stitches" or finish the work of negligent individualsGW92 201.1+1. Leaders must teach workers to be prompt, thorough, and economical, as no church can truly prosper while robbing God through unfaithful service4LtMs, Lt 6, 1883, par. 12+2. Punctuality and decision are essential, as delays in the cause of God are virtually defeats3T 499.2+1.

Dealing with Persistent Inefficiency

• Admonition first: Those who are careless should first receive kind admonition and earnest prayer to encourage repentance and a change in course14LtMs, Lt 9, 1899, par. 31+1.

• Dismissal for refusal to improve: If there are those in any department of the work who have no desire to improve, they should be dismissed so that others who are willing to do their best may be employedEA 67.2.

• Protection of the Church: Workers who become opinionated or refuse to change after being corrected must be separated from the work because they are considered "workers of evil" with whom God cannot communicate14LtMs, Lt 9, 1899, par. 31.

• Ending the cycle: Retaining workers who persist in character imperfections or do not give full proof of their ministry lowers the standard of the entire church and educates others to believe that inefficient work is acceptableTM 171.1+1.

The Standard of Service

God requires perfection in everything connected with His service and does not authorize lazy, negligent, or haphazard labor12MR 231.2+2. Everything bearing a relation to His cause should be as near to perfection as human brains and hands can make itRH December 8, 1885, par. 12. Those who regard even the humblest work as a science will find nobility in it and perform it with faithfulness and efficiencyCG 348.4. We are called to be "not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord" Romans 12:11.

Spiritual Consequences of Negligence

Unfaithfulness in "that which is least" reveals an unfitness for "much" or for eternal riches Luke 16:104T 450.2+1. The servant who is shiftless and shuns responsibility is in danger of the judgment pronounced against the slothful servant who hid his talentRH June 23, 1885, par. 8+2. Every human agent is expected to execute their assigned work with thoroughness and dispatch, remembering that they are in partnership with God 1 Corinthians 3:94T 450.2+1. Whatever your hand finds to do, you must do it with your might, for time is golden and should be improved to the best account Ecclesiastes 9:103T 499.2+1. 🙏