Aquila Report
Killing the Clergy Softly: Congregational Conflict, Job Loss and Depression
By David Briggs
They are called “clergy killers” — congregations where a small group of members are so disruptive that no pastor is able to maintain spiritual leadership for long.
And yet ministers often endure the stresses of these dysfunctional relationships for months, or even years, before eventually being forced out or giving up.
Adding to the strain is the process, which is often shrouded in secrecy. No one – from denominational officials to church members to the clerics themselves – want to acknowledge the failure of a relationship designed to be a sign to the world of mutual love and support.
But new research is providing insights into just how widespread – and damaging – these forced terminations can be to clergy.
An online study published in the March issue of the Review of Religious Research found 28 percent of ministers said they had at one time been forced to leave their jobs due to personal attacks and criticism from a small faction of their congregations.
Read MoreHow to Listen to a Sermon
by Philip Ryken Shortly before college I read Mortimer Adler’s little classic How to Read a Book. That may sound like an odd title. After all, how could somebody read the book unless they already knew how to read? And if they did know how to read, then why would they need to read it at…
Read MoreEvangelist Franklin Graham questions Christianity of Obama and Romney
Written by Lucy Madison, CBSonline Friday, 24 February 2012 “I asked President Obama how he came to faith in Christ. And he said ‘I don’t go to church.”…the president told him he’d started to go to church while working on the south side of Chicago because leaders in the community told him it was a…
Read MoreWhen the Accounts Are Called: A Christian Understanding of Gambling
Written by Albert Mohler Sunday, 26 February 2012 Gambling corrupts the culture, polluting everything it touches. Recent scandals in college basketball are proof positive that gambling is not a problem limited to casinos and horse tracks. Ominously, industry executives see great promise in the development of on-line gambling over the Internet, bringing gambling to every…
Read MorePCA Presbytery Hears Paper on Reasons to Ordain Women as Deacons
Friday, 24 February 2012 “I am writing this paper to ask a question of our presbytery and by extension our denomination. The question is ‘If I am biblically persuaded that women can serve as deacons in the church, am I outside the bounds of PCA polity presently or in the foreseeable future?’” At its February…
Read MoreTeach Children the Bible Is Not About Them
Written by Sally Lloyd-Jones, TGC Saturday, 25 February 2012 00:00 “And so what can we learn from Daniel about how God wants us to live?” And as I said those words it was as if I had literally laid a huge load on that little girl. Like I broke some spell. She crumpled right in…
Read MoreMore Chinese parents are sending their children to Christian high schools in the United States
World and Life News Written by Angela Lu and Mary Jackson, WNS Saturday, 25 February 2012 Her parents sent Hua to America because she could continue to excel academically and also have time for hobbies like painting and calligraphy. What Hua didn’t expect was her budding friendship with her teachers and her newfound interest in…
Read MoreA Response to the Final Report of Ohio Presbytery’s Intinction Study Committee
Narrative in the Bible is always descriptive, in that it describes for us what happened. Additionally, it’s sometimes prescriptive, in that it tells us what to do and/or how to do it. It is the task of the exegete to know the difference. The committee, in its report, fails to even address or even acknowledge…
Read MorePiety and Learning, Gentleness and Conviction
Scripture tells us (Hebrews 13:17) that some people will be hard to pastor, and tells us not to be those people. Knox and Ginger are the exact opposite –they have always been more of a blessing to me than I could ever be to them.) During Knox’s long hospitalization, the Lord gave me some wonderful…
Read MoreLet’s Have More Worship Wars
What I am saying is that most of our varying critiques of musical forms are often just narcissism disguised as concern about theological and liturgical downgrade. That’s why I think we need more, and better, worship wars.
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