G. Lloyd Rediger, Clergy Killers: Guidance for Pastors and Congregations Under Attack. Westminster / John Knox, 1997. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Criticism, Difficult People, Difficult Conversations LifeandLeadership.com Summary While is is important to avoid some of the reactionary excess in this book (see Boers’ Never Call Them Jerks), this book is still valuable in
Wayne E. Oates, The Care of Troublesome People. Alban Institute, 1994. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Criticism, Difficult People, Difficult Conversations LifeandLeadership.com Summary Oates is a highly respected psychiatrist. In this book, he discusses how to assess and interact with five different types of people who often create difficulty for church leaders – the circumferential
Kenneth Haugk, Antagonists in the Church: How to Identify and Deal with Destructive Conflict. Augsburg Fortress, 1988. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Criticism, Difficult People, Difficult Conversations LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is the long recognized standard on the subject of difficult people in congregations. Haugk defines “antagonists” as individuals who, on the basis of nonsubstantive evidence,
Guy Greenfield, The Wounded Minister: Healing from and Preventing Personal Attacks. Baker Books, 2001. Referenced in: Church Conflict – Criticism, Difficult People, Difficult Conversations LifeandLeadership.com Summary This is an insightful resource for ministers who have been deeply hurt by their experience in ministry, not only by personal attacks but also abusive churches. It seems to
Church Conflict – Criticism, Difficult People, Difficult Conversations Part of the LifeandLeadership.com ministry resources on Church Conflict Conflict situations almost always require church leaders to weather criticism, absorb varying levels of hostility, respond to very difficult behavior from individuals or groups, or relate to persons who are overtly antagonistic. There is help. Ministry resources in
