A top administrator who helped direct regional operations for some 130 Charlotte-area Presbyterian churches was fired over the weekend in what he called a "blindside" over his leadership.

The Rev. Dr. Sam Roberson, general presbyter for the Presbytery of Charlotte for almost a decade, was removed from his position Saturday on a vote by the Presbytery members. The voters are made up of pastors and elders from member churches.

Roberson, 65, said Tuesday that prior to his firing, he was told by two of the Presbytery's clergy leaders that Roberson's staff "wasn't clear it could work with me." The staff numbers a half-dozen or so people.

He said the broader issue was his leadership style during a period of great struggle and change for Presbyterian churches in Charlotte and around the country.

"I'm a leader that wants to help the church deal with those changing realities," he said, "and there are still a lot of people in denial that hope the world can still be the way it's always been."

Among the changes, he cited: shrinking budgets and church rolls, multi-culturalism and the emerging role of gays and lesbians.

Janie Beaver, who as the elected moderator of the Presbytery ran Saturday's meeting, declined to comment on what took place. She did confirm that the group's relationship with Roberson "has been dissolved," and that he will receive a year's pay as severance.

Robert Austell, pastor of Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, also declined to comment. He serves as chairman of the executive committee for the voting body.

According to Roberson, it was Austell and another Presbytery leader who asked to meet with him a week ago, in which the complaints against him were aired.

Austell filed a late agenda change to bring Roberson's future to a weekend vote. In calling for a hearing on the "state of the presbytery," Austell wrote, "I intend for that to be a time of frank truth-telling, including the financial, relational, ministry and mission challenges we face."

Timm High of the Presbytery's staff, will serve as Roberson's interim replacement. High served that same role when Roberson was on sabbatical during the fall.

Presbyterians are inseparable from Charlotte's history. The city's first churches all came under the denomination, and many of the city's key political and business leaders remain Presbyterians.

The Presbytery covers seven counties. With 40,000 church members, it is the country's third largest presbytery.

Roberson headed an administrative staff that trains and ordains ministers, supports church ministries, launches cooperative congregational efforts while settling disputes between church and pastors.

Roberson said he will remain in the area. He lives in Fort Mill where his wife, the Rev. Dr. Joann Sizoo is pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church.

His replacement faces daunting challenges, said John Cleghorn, pastor of Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian in Charlotte.

"It's a point where we have to embrace change far more readily," he said, "but clergy and laypeople alike have different opinions about whether we're going too fast or not fast enough."