Though some conflict in the church may be normal, there are some types of conflict which are abnormal and abusive. Within some congregations there are personalities who seek to unsettle the relationship between minister and congregation. In this engaging and useful book, G. Lloyd Rediger offers strategies to prevent abuse, support clergy, and to build healthier congregations.
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About the Author
G. Lloyd Rediger is a pastor, pastoral counselor, and consultant on spiritual leadership. He has written for several national religious publications and is the author of a number of books, including the best-selling Clergy Killers: Guidance for Pastors and Congregations under Attack.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
31 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In some churches one or more pathological antagonists lurk to make a beachhead of attack upon the pastor. These "clergy killers" are vicious, mean-spirited, and full of rage who target the pastor for elimination by any means possible. Passive, unsuspecting parishoners sit by and carelessly allow this "murder" of their pastor's ministry, career, even his marriage and family (collateral damage). Only radical surgery of these sick ("evil"?) antagonists can prevent the destruction of the pastor's life and ministry. This book should be read by all boards of deacons, elders, stewards to prepare them for a protective ministry for their ministers. Thousands of ministers are being driven from the ministry (and church) each year by these (sometimes pious, slick, and charming) destructive antagonists. Rediger shows us how to stop this bleeding of the church's leadership. If your pastor is under attack and wounded, he/she needs your help now. Redi! ! ger offers such help.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
We were almost "Clergy Killed", but thanks to the insight of this author, we decided to seek the help emotionally, psychologically and spiritually that we so deserately needed. It was because of this book's section on "Collateral Damage" that allowed my husband's disability insurance to kick in. The first 5 paragraphs of this book almost verbatum describe our situation. Just the names were changed to protect the guilty. It's a practical balanced perspective in the psychosocial world as well as spiritually speaking. Another great complimentary book to this is "Firestorm: Preventing and Overcoming Church Conflicts" by Run Susek. Both these books are MUST READS for any church leader, whether laymen or profession.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Lloyd Rediger is a speaker and consultant on church dynamics and leadership issues; in "Clergy Killers," he addresses a shocking, yet growing phenomenon. Pastors and priests are being increasingly attacked by their own congregation members; this is more than mere differences of principled opinions, personality conflicts, or poor communication-rather the conflict involves persistent and deliberate attacks that stem from mental illness or a conscious choice on the part of a person to embrace evil. The results of these attacks are devastating: the pastor's overall health is strongly, adversely affected as is the health of the pastor's family, the health of the church leaders, their families, and the congregation itself. To further compound the issue, pastors are often neither trained nor prepared to confront abnormal conflict, most seminaries don't train in conflict management, and denominational leaders are neither equipped nor motivated to assist pastors under attack.
For this important problem, Rediger presents a number of helpful suggestion to avoid serious attacks. These include recognizing the existence of mental illness and evil (both in the world and in the church), the deliberate cultivation of relationships ("Relationships! Relationships! Relationships!"), a purposeful focus on health-physical, mental, and spiritual-for both the pastor and the congregation at large, and the identification of support systems.
Rediger is strong on the identification and analysis of the danger posed by "clergy killers." Weaker is his sections on solutions-not because they seem unworkable, but because they are not presented as clearly as they might have been and because the connections between proposed solution and the original problem tends to be ambiguous. Nevertheless, this reflects his holistic and systematic approach to issues (which is appreciated and tends to compliment Kenneth Haugk's "Antagonists in the Church" well). Other weaknesses in this otherwise excellent book include his well-intentioned treatment on worship/prayer (which tended to tear down traditional Western forms of worship in order to build up his favored Eastern forms) and the closing bibliography. Rediger cites a number of helpful books in the narrative yet the closing bibliography does not reflect these citations.
In all, these criticisms do not detract from the overall high quality of the book. As one formerly under attack by a clergy killer, the book is dead-right in many places and has helped to prepare me should similar issues arise in the future. It (along with Haugk's book) should be required reading for pastors and lay leaders.
For this important problem, Rediger presents a number of helpful suggestion to avoid serious attacks. These include recognizing the existence of mental illness and evil (both in the world and in the church), the deliberate cultivation of relationships ("Relationships! Relationships! Relationships!"), a purposeful focus on health-physical, mental, and spiritual-for both the pastor and the congregation at large, and the identification of support systems.
Rediger is strong on the identification and analysis of the danger posed by "clergy killers." Weaker is his sections on solutions-not because they seem unworkable, but because they are not presented as clearly as they might have been and because the connections between proposed solution and the original problem tends to be ambiguous. Nevertheless, this reflects his holistic and systematic approach to issues (which is appreciated and tends to compliment Kenneth Haugk's "Antagonists in the Church" well). Other weaknesses in this otherwise excellent book include his well-intentioned treatment on worship/prayer (which tended to tear down traditional Western forms of worship in order to build up his favored Eastern forms) and the closing bibliography. Rediger cites a number of helpful books in the narrative yet the closing bibliography does not reflect these citations.
In all, these criticisms do not detract from the overall high quality of the book. As one formerly under attack by a clergy killer, the book is dead-right in many places and has helped to prepare me should similar issues arise in the future. It (along with Haugk's book) should be required reading for pastors and lay leaders.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Must Read
Must read for anyone who has issues in their organization with caustic people who are destroying the organization. Not just for clergy. Read more
Published 5 months ago by gsmith
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clergy Spouse
Clergy abuse is prevalent, yet most people have never heard the term. When asked by a PNC what gifts I bring to the church, I replied, "I take care of the pastor.". Read more
Published 9 months ago by nana27
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clergy Killers
This book is right on target. It will help people to understand the underlying causes of church discord and help pastors understand their congregations better. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Lorrie S. Harris
2.0 out of 5 stars
Good analysis; prescription lacking
Clergy Killers is a book about antagonists in the church intent on destroying pastors. The great strength of the book is in documenting the pervasiveness of the problem - with case... Read more
Published 19 months ago by Joshua D. Reitano
5.0 out of 5 stars
clergy killers
This book I received in good condition and I thoughly enjoy reading. I will make other purchases through amozon. Read more
Published 19 months ago by gd
5.0 out of 5 stars
Some people are actually trying to destroy their clergy
You may wonder why there is a book tackling what seems to be an issue so severe that it must be extremely rare, if it even really exists. Read more
Published on February 23, 2011 by James Ulvog
1.0 out of 5 stars
Don't But It!
This book was quite popular fro several years. I now see it presented as what not to do. Following its advice can lead to disaster. Read more
Published on December 5, 2010 by F. Fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars
A CLERGY MUST READ!!!!
Clergy members, it is not always your fault. Read this book and you will be better off when attacked.
Published on April 23, 2010 by New York Buyer
4.0 out of 5 stars
Clergy Killers
This is a very interesting book especially for those pastors experiencing conflict with a Church congregation. The analysis is excellent. Read more
Published on August 22, 2009 by Reagards
5.0 out of 5 stars
Clergy Killers
I'm very satisfied with the product and the service. I received the book quickly, and it was exactly as advertised.
Published on August 18, 2009 by Sharon Allmond
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