Trauma, God Image and Renewal of Terminated Pastors

Abstract

This study is based on an analysis of the narratives of pastors who have
previously experienced high levels of distressing conflict in pastoral
leadership of Australian Baptist or Churches of Christ churches. All of
these had chosen to leave or were ejected from their pastorates as a
direct result of the ongoing conflict. Through a close analysis of their
narratives which were shared during a number of semi-structured
interviews, some prominent themes emerged lending themselves to
analysis and the refinement of theory. A model of pastoral response to
conflict emerged. The pastors can be grouped into three categories of
response to the conflict. This was not determined by whether they
returned to ministry or ‘abandoned their call’. All persons maintain an
abiding sense of call to ministry. The issues that discriminate between
them reflect also whether they have been able to move on from the
distress of conflict that centred upon themselves. A Model of pastoral
response is proposed that integrates three variables that determine this
emotional outcome: the pastors’ preferred God Images, their underlying
theological worldview, and their natural response to anxiety. There is
also some evidence that this natural response to anxiety and their
preferred God images relate directly to the adequacy of their parental
images and their primal holding environment. Typical denominational
responses to such persons appears to be inadequate and a significant
complication in the process of post-traumatic healing. The proposed
model would therefore suggest effectively care for such pastors
necessitates a backwards reading of these pastoral narratives as a source
of exploration and reconstruction for those concerned and the pastors themselves.