To continue our look at Guy Greenfield’s The Wounded Minister, I want to discuss the first and second characteristics that all pathological antagonists or clergy killers have in common. See if you have experienced any of these behaviors being exibited in your churches. It is time to out these abusers.

The arguments of a pathological antagonist are usually founded on little or terribly misrepresented evidence.

Youth ministers have seen this behavior unfold usually after a youth event. Something on the trip or at a camp will happen and by the time the youth group arrives home an executive comittee has been formed to investigate the supposed “heretical” event. I thought about detailing a story that a youth minister friend once told me about this very thing but I realized that his story seemed almost calm when compared to the stories of countless other ministers. This friend remains in ministry and his clergy killer left his church. Usually that isn’t the case.

The misrepresented evidence comes on all shapes and sizes. Quarreling over irrelevant points, exagerating one’s position (usually followed with statements like, “People are talking about…” “They feel like your headed in the wrong direction.”), and making accusations that can not be proven or disproven. Greenfield even goes on to say that he “would add another fallacy- outright lying or falsification. An antagonist will take certian facts and so twist then that they are blatently false when presented.” Usually though the antangonist will use a combination of all of these tactics. I’ve seen them and you’ve seen them.

The bottom line is that clergy abusers will lie, cheat, and steal to remain in power, intimidate, or excersise control over their ministers.

The pathological antagonist will initiate trouble.

Often this type of behavior, which should be reserved for junior highers, is exhibited by grown men and women in our churches. You know these people. They are the ones who are hypersensitive to every little word or nuance. You didn’t ask them to chaperone, you frowned at them from across the auditorium, their child feels picked on. These people assume everyone is out to get them. You, the minister, are a leader in the church so obviously, you have it out for him/her. They are human phone trees. They call their friend who is an elder or a deacon. At church, they drop the hint that they have been slighted or they, “for the good of the church,” let on that trouble is brewing and it must be stopped. Every church has one of these people. Are you that person?

Today’s Conclusion

It is my hope and prayer that no one reading this has fallen into these traps. It is very easy for any of us to blow things out of proportion. We all have ideas and strong feelings about how this should or should not be done. But we also have a responsiblity to serve those with whom God has put over us as leaders. Even David chose not to kill the king. He allowed God to work in His own time for His own purposes. Some people don’t wait for God to act. They pick up the phone, dial just the right number, and say just the right words (half truthful or completely untruthful) to start trouble. Let’s avoid this trap altogether and stop those who employ these tactics.