Every church deals with personality conflicts and intermittent
discord. But in some churches, what should be normal clashes has
become a devastating form of abuse-pastoral abuse. A growing
phenomenon that cuts across denominational lines and impacts every
level of ministry, pastoral abuse leaves in its wake thousands of
wounded clergymen with ruined ministries, broken relationships,
damaged health, even shattered faith.
The Wounded Minister: Healing for Abused Clergy, written by a
clinically trained pastoral counselor, examines the reality of evil
in churches and the ways in which "pathological antagonists"
emotionally and spiritually batter pastors. A deft mix of personal
experience and in-depth research, this resource will help wounded
men and women of all ministerial positions learn how to recover
their broken hearts while rebuilding their lives. And as
preventative medicine, it also provides guidelines on how
spiritually sensitive Christians can develop a church structure
that protects their pastors from this tragedy.
Both compassionate and proactive, this book is an excellent
resource for hurting pastors as well as lay leadership pursuing
healthy church life.
Are you a hurting pastor seeking healing? Are you a lay leader
wanting to protect your pastor? Here is a compassionate, proactive
look at pastoral abuse, a tragic reality that you can do something
about.
Every church deals with personality conflicts and intermittent
discord. But in some congregations, there are people who
intentionally attack leaders and initiate a devastating form of
abuse-pastoral abuse. A growing phenomenon that cuts across
denominational lines and impacts every level of ministry, pastoral
abuse leaves in its wake wounded people with ruined ministries,
broken relationships, damaged health, even shattered faith.
The Wounded Minister examines the reality of evil in churches and
the ways in which "clergy killers" or "pathological antagonists"
emotionally and spiritually batter pastors. A deft mix of personal
experience and in-depth research, this resource will help wounded
people of all ministerial positions learn how to recover their
broken hearts while rebuilding their lives. As preventive medicine,
it also provides guidelines on how sensitive Christians can develop
a church structure that protects their pastors from this
tragedy.
Foreword by Dr. Brooks Faulkner
Introduction
Part 1: The Reality of Abuse
1 Clergy Killers on the Loose
2 Pathological Antagonists in the Church
3 When Evil Invades the Church
4 The Minister's Greatest Enemy: Passive Lay Leaders
5 The Dangers of Autonomous Church Policy
6 Wrecking a Minister's Life and Career
7 Collateral Damage to Ministers
8 Collateral Damage to the Church
Part 2: Pathological Ministers
9 Ministers Who Invite Attack
10 Abuse from Pathological Ministers
Part 3: Recovery and Healing
11 A Minister's Advisory Council
12 Steps toward Healing for Abused Clergy
13 Recovering from Shattered Dreams
14 Wounded Healers
Afterword: Growing through Rejection
Notes
Recommended Reading
Guy Greenfield is a former pastor and seminary professor who now performs counseling services through Panhandle Pastoral Counseling Ministry, which he founded. He is a member of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors and the American Association of Christian Counselors. Greenfield is also the author of several books, including The Wounded Parent and Reigniting Love and Passion. He lives in Amarillo, Texas.