When a Congregation Is Betrayed: Responding to Clergy Misconduct

Other books have been written about clergy misconduct and its effects on congregations. Some are by victims. Others are written by professionals for a professional audience. Until now, however, there hasn't been a book for the congregational leaders who must deal with the fallout of clergy misconduct. Both the afterpastors--the interim or settled pastors who follow misconducting pastors--and lay leaders need guidance about how to assess and effectively respond to the misconduct, how to care for the victim/survivor, and how to carry out the mission and ministry to which the congregation has been called.

Beth Ann Gaede is a pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and an editorial consultant to the Alban Institute. She also edited the Alban publications Congregations Talking about Homosexuality: Dialogue on a Difficult Issue, Size Transitions in Congregations, and Ending with Hope: A Resource for Closing Congregations.