Ministry And Community: Recognizing, Healing, and Preventing Ministry Impairment

Ministry impairment seems to be increasingly problematic for the Church today. While the minister's personality or character are typically the focus of media attention, impairment is also influenced by organizational dynamics such as the recruitment and promotion policies of the religious organization as well as its culture and structure. Ministry and Community highlights the interplay of personality dynamics and organizational dynamics for eight of the most common forms of ministry impairment and shows how they can be recognized, treated, and prevented. In Ministry and Community Len Sperry looks at the dynamics underlying and supporting narcissistic behavior, sexual abusing behavior, psychopathic behavior, borderline behavior, depressive behavior, obsessive-compulsive behavior, manic-depressive behavior, and passive-aggressive behavior in ministry personnel. He then describes a number of effective strategies that can modify these individual and organizational dynamics. Rather than affix blame on ministers or the Church, this book offers a series of observations on concerns faced by the Church and provides suggestions for addressing these concerns. Ministry and Community offers a measure of hopefulness about the prospects for professional ministry in the Church. These suggestions include specific criterion for determining fitness for ministry, guidelines for realistically appraising ministry performance, and specific indications and contraindications for psychotherapy and other psychiatric interventions. Chapters are "Ministry and Community Today: An Overview," "Narcissistic Behavior in Ministry," "Sexually-Abusing Behavior in Ministry," "Psychopathic Behavior in Ministry," "Borderline Behavior in Ministry," "Manic-Depressive Behavior in Ministry," "Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Ministry," "Depressive Behavior in Ministry," "Passive-Aggressive Behavior in Ministry," "From Healing to Wholeness in Ministry and Community," and "Fitness for Ministry: Some Selection Criteria."?. . . a small but information-packed book that addresses preventing as well as dealing with crisis.? Crux?This little volume is a major service to those of us in the field.? The Priest?This is a ?must read? book for anyone in ministry who wants to help rather than be hurt by wounded people. . . . Even the appendix is a ?must read.? ? Matthew Linn, S.J., Dennis Linn, Sheila Linn?Dr. Sperry's important work should be carefully read and studied by everyone in authority, but especially by bishops, major superiors of religious, and all those who are responsible for the lives of others. Dr. Sperry brings together the best insights of his field and applies them in a special way to those who minister in the Church so that they can serve better. It is indeed a major achievement.? Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, O.S.B.