3. Protection and policies around ministers can be lax.
Churches rarely have policies requiring accountability software on their computer or mobile phone. Few or no precautions are taken when the minister is counseling someone of the opposite sex. And ministers
often go on visitation to homes by themselves.
Policies don’t cure bad behavior or a wayward congregant, but they provide an extra boundary that may be a difference maker in a tempting situation.
4. Ministers have few people they can share their deepest struggles with.
It’s hard for a minister to be transparent. His closest relationships are usually with church people, and he doesn’t want to share deeply with parishioners.
Neither does he share his personal or sexual struggles with other ministers for fear he might lose his job.
5. Ministers frequently feed off the approval of others.
Ministers can be approval addicts. Their identities can revolve around the attention and comments of others.
A minister’s wellbeing, if it is unhealthy, rises and falls with every “Good sermon” or “Sister Carolina is mad at you.” Not only are broken church members looking
for attention, but so are broken ministers.
Sexual tension in a minister/parishioner relationship is powerful and deadly. It pushes the button of an approval addict and the needy church member, and can quickly lead to disaster.
Churches rarely have policies requiring accountability software on their computer or mobile phone. Few or no precautions are taken when the minister is counseling someone of the opposite sex. And ministers
often go on visitation to homes by themselves.
Policies don’t cure bad behavior or a wayward congregant, but they provide an extra boundary that may be a difference maker in a tempting situation.
4. Ministers have few people they can share their deepest struggles with.
It’s hard for a minister to be transparent. His closest relationships are usually with church people, and he doesn’t want to share deeply with parishioners.
Neither does he share his personal or sexual struggles with other ministers for fear he might lose his job.
5. Ministers frequently feed off the approval of others.
Ministers can be approval addicts. Their identities can revolve around the attention and comments of others.
A minister’s wellbeing, if it is unhealthy, rises and falls with every “Good sermon” or “Sister Carolina is mad at you.” Not only are broken church members looking
for attention, but so are broken ministers.
Sexual tension in a minister/parishioner relationship is powerful and deadly. It pushes the button of an approval addict and the needy church member, and can quickly lead to disaster.
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