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The pastor’s name was almost immediately removed from the marquee at Shiloh Baptist Church after the firing of the Rev. F. Willis Johnson.

Many of you either applauded church leaders for taking charge, or wondered what place ministry might have in a congregation in which the pastor’s authority and his ministry are seemingly limited.

Much was made of the fact that the church’s bylaws, written with the help of lawyers in the congregation, include a provision that allows the church’s governing board to suspend the pastor.

Dean Bill Leonard of the Wake Forest University Divinity School says the traditional role of the pastor is changing and that the increase in incidents of churches taking the pastor to court proves it.

The difference here, he said, is that these church bylaws make it easier for a judge to determine what to do — in the case of Shiloh, the bylaws state the role of everyone from trustees to the pastor.

“We are clearly in a time of transition in relation to the nature of church governance,” Leonard said. “As more churches turn toward congregational church government, the question of ministerial authority vs. congregational authority takes on legal implications.

“In some ways, you have two different visions of the nature of the church with the congregation as the continuing centerpiece of authority vs. the pastoral role, whoever is in it, as the centerpiece of congregational authority. And because these churches have no connections to other systems, like bishops, for example, they turn to the secular courts.”

Pastors often think once they are on board, once they are in the system, they can negotiate the style of ministry they want, and in some places that’s possible, Leonard said.

“When congregationalism works, it’s really wonderful — it’s a people’s movement,” Leonard said. “But when it fails it fails miserably, and it leads to divisions, schism and conflict.”

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Shalom Community Christian Church, celebrating 10 years of ministry, will welcome Grammy-nominated gospel/jazz recording artist Ben Tankard at its worship service at 10 a.m. July 12 at Pfeiffer Chapel on the Bennett College campus.

Those attending are asked to bring at least three canned goods to replenish the food pantry at the Greensboro Urban Ministry.

Tankard, the pastor of Destiny Center, one of the fastest-growing churches in Tennessee, will provide ministry through music, featuring songs off his new album “My Lip.” The CD entered three Billboard charts during its first week of release.

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Jewish Family Services in Greensboro is sponsoring an “Alzheimer’s Disease Update,” with Dr. Jerry Plovsky, an internist and geriatric psychiatrist.

“Moving Forward” will deal with a litany of issues and the answers to such questions as:

lWho’s at risk?

lIs research finding answers?

lWhat about treatment and diagnosis?

The discussion will also include the Alzheimer’s Solution Project, a national advocacy effort whose interests range from the cost of care to medical solutions.

The discussion is at 7 p.m. July 14 at Temple Emanuel, 1129 Jefferson Road.

Contact Nancy McLaughlin at 373-7049 or nancy.mclaughlin@news-record.com