Challenging Leaders launched: a new practical resource for churches

PRESS RELEASE – 14 March 2023

Affinity; Gospel Churches in Partnership in collaboration with Christian Focus Publications are delighted to announce the release of a brand new publication “Challenging Leaders”.

When it comes to the topic of spiritual abuse in the church, conversations and debates often quickly diverge. One group of evangelical Christians are wary of victim advocates, often saying ‘there is nothing to see here’ and taking refuge in the fact that being a good and strong leader will always provoke opposition. They see the drive for more openness about safeguarding as mostly driven by a secular victim culture. Other evangelicals believe there is an endemic problem with overbearing leaders, that the inbuilt power imbalance means leaders are almost always overreaching and church members are vulnerable victims, so they get frustrated with those who instinctively defend pastors or ask for evidence.

In recent years, there have been a small number of high-profile church cases (and many others being dealt with privately), where charges against leaders have included abuse of their power. We live in a cultural and regulative climate where there is far greater emphasis on recognising abusers and victims in child safeguarding, domestic abuse, and in the workplace. Relatively new terms have gained currency in domestic and leadership contexts such as “coercive control” and “power imbalance” and these are being read across to church leadership. Much of this is good. It shines a light on ungodly practices which may have been overlooked in the past but can sometimes categorise aspects of normal, appropriate pastoral care including warning, admonition, and discipline as in fact abusive.

Challenging Leaders is a resource to help churches navigate this difficult landscape.

Graham Nicholls, Director of Affinity and a local church pastor in Sussex commented:

“This book is an acknowledgement that across established denominations and independent churches, abuse of power by leaders and of leaders does happen. It is wrong and we need to deal with it biblically, justly and compassionately. We also want to name abuse and slander with the language of sin, requiring repentance, and sometimes discipline rather than to lead with therapeutic or legal terms which can place it outside the normal decision-making of a church.

We want to cultivate healthy Christian communities where concerns about pastoral
malpractice can be raised and dealt with fairly, and in ways which are honouring to Christ, theologically faithful and legally compliant.

We live in a cultural and regulative climate where there is far greater emphasis on recognising abusers and victims in child safeguarding, domestic abuse, and in the workplace. Relatively new terms have gained currency in domestic and leadership contexts such as “coercive control” and “power imbalance” and these are being read across to church leadership. Much of this is good. It shines a light on ungodly practice which may have been overlooked in the past but can sometimes categorise aspects of normal, appropriate pastoral care including warning, admonition, and discipline as in fact abusive.”

This book has been put together by experts and is a unique guide for those struggling to navigate this hazardous landscape of abuse in the context of leadership. 

For further details on this new book and to order a copy, please visit: challengingleaders.uk

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Graham Nicholls is available for an interview on this new book. Please contact Adam May to arrange this: 07736 949 869 or adam@affinity.org.uk

Copies of the book are available by request.