Kibbie Simmons Ruth and Karen A. McClintock, Healthy Disclosure: Solving Communication Quandaries in Congregations. Alban Institute, 2007. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an expanded treatment of one aspect of the response congregations must make to crises such as misconduct by a minister or prominent congregational leader —
Joy Thornburg Melton, Safe Sanctuaries for Ministers: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church. Discipleship Resources, 2009. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary Melton is the author, Safe Sanctuaries: Reducing the Risk of Abuse in the Church for Children and Youth, which has become one of the most widely
Eileen Schmitz, Staying in Bounds: Straight Talk on Boundaries For Effective Ministry. Chalice Press, 2010. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary Almost all ministerial misconduct, especially sexual impropriety, constitutes a violation of boundaries. There is a plethora of excellent resources on boundaries, but few that are focused on boundaries in
Scott Edelstein, Sex and the Spiritual Teacher: Why It Happens, When It’s a Problem, and What We All Can Do. Wisdom Publications, 2011. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book is not limited to Christian congregations and includes Buddhist, Jewish and other faith groups, but the sexual dynamics it
Karen A. McClintock, Preventing Sexual Abuse in Congregations: A Resource for Leaders. Alban Institute, 2004. Referenced in: Chuch Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume is not focused on clergy misconduct, but deals more generally with the issue of sexual impropriety in its various forms within congregations, including both children and adults
Stanley J. Grenz and Roy D. Bell, Betrayal of Trust: Confronting and Preventing Sexual Misconduct. Second Edition. Baker Books, 2001. Reference in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This book is now in its second edition, and is one of most thorough and widely used on the subject, especially among evangelicals. While
Candace R. Benyei, Understanding Clergy Misconduct in Religious Systems: Scapegoating, Family Secrets, and the Abuse of Power. Routledge Press, 1998. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is my first recommendation for congregational trauma. It also functions as one of the most lucid explanations of family systems for churches. Benyei’s
Beth Ann Gaede, Editor, When a Congregation is Betrayed: Responding to Clergy Misconduct. Alban Institute, 2005. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an anthology of articles from ministry practitioners, including Beth Ann Gaede, Nancy Myer Hopkins, Candace R. Benyei, Mary Sellon and others. Its special contribution is discussing
Nancy Mayer Hopkins and Mark Lasser, Editors, Restoring the Soul of a Church: Healing Congregations Wounded by Clergy Sexual Misconduct. Liturgical Press, 1995. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary This volume looks thoroughly at the unique challenges faced by a congregation that has suffered pastoral sexual misconduct. It discusses the
Jill M. Hudson, Congregational Trauma: Caring, Coping, and Learning. Alban Institute, 1998. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Congregational Trauma, Ministerial Misconduct LifeandLeadership.com Summary Not all congregational conflict involves trauma, and helping people through trauma demands not so much conflict skills as specialized pastoral and leadership skills. Jill Hudson’s volume is invaluable in these cases. Hudson
