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The number of forced terminations of pastors and church staff in Southern Baptist congregations has dropped. For 2006, the last year tabulated, 680 full-time and “bivocational” pastors were forced from their positions, in addition to 265 staff members. Since the denomination began tracking church firings in 1996, it has found that the primary reason for firings involves issues of “control” of the congregation.

The nationwide survey by the Southern Baptist Church-Minister Relations Association was reported January 16 by the Nashville-based Baptist Press.