Church bullies are toxic to the local church. They create divisions and unhealthy alliances, spread gossip and rumors, and undermine leaders regularly. They do this to accomplish their ends. They may be angry, have an agenda, or want to hurt leaders, whether boards or the
senior Pastor. But the end result of their toxic, unethical, and unbiblical behavior is to hurt God's people. If you are a church leader, please read that last sentence again because it matters.
Here is the problem with church boards and church bullies.
Boards are very reluctant to deal with them. They are intimidated by them and
don't want to rock the boat. They find all kinds of ways to justify this toxic
behavior. "Oh, that is just Joe; get used to it." Listen, Betty is a
good person despite all the gossip and malicious lies she tells." "We
have always had a problem with Bill."
And who gets hurt? First, God's people. The leadership
becomes complicit in the toxicity when they refuse to deal with it. Bullies use
disinformation, unkind words, gossip, malicious charges, and underhanded
techniques to get their way. And they refuse to be held accountable. They
triangulate leaders and, in the process, create doubt, distrust, and undermine
senior leaders. Often, the senior Pastor.
Read the entire article, When
Church Boards Don’t Confront Church Bullies, by T. J. Addington, here.
And click here to read part one here and part
three.
Image used courtesy of Pexels
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