Marshall Shelley

The church is full of difficult people. Often they don’t mean to be divisive, but pastors have to navigate power plays from lay leaders or other people opposed to the minister’s ministry philosophy. Differences in theological convictions can lead to mistrust and questioning of pastoral motives. Sometimes lay leaders have convictions about how to deal strongly with sin in the congregation without seeing the full picture that the pastor sees in confidential counseling sessions. This often show more means that when ‘dragons’ act to nip a problem in the bud, they cause undue hurt and consternation. Author Marshall Shelley calls these problem people, “Well-intentioned Dragons.” After all they aren’t trying to make life hell for those around them, but the end up causing much pastoral anxiety.

Ministering to Problem People in the Church helps pastors diagnosis problem people, set appropriate boundaries, create a culture of active lay participation and healthy leadership and confront these ‘dragons’ where necessary. Ministering to Problem People in the Church was originally published as Well-Intentioned Dragons. I actually read the earlier edition of this book and found it helpful of understanding the dynamics of fallen people in church. New to this edition was a chapter on electronic communication which gives pastors some principles for communicating well in a world of texts, email and social media (and not compounding problems!). Also Shelley has a chapter on dealing with those struggling with mental illness in the church, which is sensitive to the dynamics of treatment and affirms the full personhood of those who struggle without demonizing them.

I think Shelley’s shorthand of ‘well-intentioned dragons’ for difficult congregants is problematic (these are fellow image-bearers not mythical beasts) but he offers sound advice on how to navigate troubled waters. Despite the shorthand label, he advocates attempt to approach dragons with respect and understanding, sensitive to their past wounds. He also doesn’t think we are in the business of slaying dragons, but of winning them back to the body of Christ (following Matthew 18). So despite the nomenclature, Shelley humanizes God’s problem children in the church.

Another concern one might have while reading this book is, ‘what if the pastor is the the problem?” Spiritual abuse and clergy misconduct are real issues but that is beyond the scope of this book. Shelley assumes that the pastor is attempting to lead God’s people well. I would hate for abusive pastors to label all their opponents as ‘dragons’ as a way of silencing them, but that would be to ignore most of Shelley’s advice. But if you assume that this book is written to help pastors lead healthy congregations (which it was), and follow Shelley’s advice for creating a healthy leadership culture, their is little cause for concern here.

Pastors and ministry leaders will find in Shelley’s helpful advice for shepherding God’s people, especially when they find themselves at loggerheads with those they seek to lead. This will be much more helpful to the ministry practitioner (its intended audience) than the general reader. I give this book four stars.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. show less

Our innermost world, our deepest selves, those carefully protected places that are revealed only in the safest of conditions, are where we store our fears, our formative experiences, our most significant questions. No one, churchgoer or secularist, opens that innermost world too readily. We have either witnessed or experienced the pain or opening up to someone who isn't safe: judgment, ridicule, secrets cheaply passed along for entertainment value. For many, many people today, you must 'pass show more the trust test' n talking abourt sex before you ever have a chance to talk about God. show less

The Sunday assembly is a 'friendly community gathering for likeminded people' that meet once a month in a deconsecrated church. It's a cultural curiosity now but perhaps a portent of the future. The Sunday Assembly plans to stream their services on YouTube, and help set up similar gatherings around the world. Is it beyond imagining atheist missionaries knocking on our doors someday?

Recommended to me by my Bishop, this book has been a life-saver. Filled with practical wisdom on how to deal with difficult people and situations which arise in pastoral work, the book is a must read for pastors and their staff.

Two key things drawn from the book. First, "dragons" need ministry and cannot just be dismissed or written off. As Shelley points out, the goal is not to destroy the dragon it is to minister to them and the situations driving the conflict.

Second, sometimes it is the show more pastor's own behavior or lack thereof that can nurture a dragon into existence. I appreciate Shelley's very honest appraisal of the pastoral role in the conflict with difficult parishoners. Throughout the book, author calls the minister to exercise pastoral sensitivity and prayerful responses to the words and actions of dragons.

Again, an excellent read for every minister. I can't think of a pastor who would not identify with the many case studies Shelley uses throughout the book. show less