 Abingdon Press
New from G. Lloyd Rediger - April 2007
About the Book This book offers lifelines for pastors serving toxic and dysfunctional congregations.
A culture of triage engulfs mainstream religion in America. More and more churches are either toxic or dysfunctional. These churches contribute to the chronic decline of membership and burnout of clergy. Such churches cannot be "fixed" by even sincere or competent pastors without listening to God's guidance, insightful diagnosis, healing and conversion, revision, and supportive attention. Pastors did not sign on for this kind of ministry, but growing numbers find themselves in the throes of a life and death struggle for the soul of their church.
This book will offer the vision, dynamics, and programming necessary for regenerating impaired congregations.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
Chapters
1 The Toxic Congregation
2 Chapter Three: The Normal Congregation
3 The Normal Congregation
4 The Paradigmatic Congregation
5 Why People Act Like They Do
6 Instruments of Peace
7 Pastoral Self-Care and Detoxification
8 Interacting with a Congregation's Soul
Addenda
A: BMS Fitness Outline
B: Energy Management Inventory
C: Comparison of Absolutist and Consequential Ethics
D: Conflict Over Healing: A Case Study
E: ABC's Worksheet
F: Reflecting on Your Own Spiritual Health
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Biographical Sketch
Index
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