An interview with Michael Kruger, author of Bully Pulpit
Guilt, Grace, Gratitude
Quote
One of the hallmark indicators [of abusive leaders] is … a debris field of broken relationships… a trail of dead bodies that goes back years and years and years…destroyed lives…people who are estranged from this person… That is red flag #1.
Overview of video with timestamps
1:45 What prompted Kruger to write Bully Pulpit?
4:56 The niche for the book: From a church leader to church leaders.
6:14 Confidence in doctrine and polity can cause us to lower our vigilance and believe it can’t happen to us
7:37 Celebrity pastors: it’s not about the size of the church but the disposition of the congregants toward the pastor and that which he has toward himself. Big fish in little pond.
9:23 Primary red flag of a toxic or spiritual abusive leader: “Debris field of broken relationships,” destroyed lives.
11:40 Current cultural frameworks through which some view spiritual abuse: if you raise concerns about spiritual abuse, aren’t you feeding our modern victim culture? Is it a manifestation of woke, progressive culture?
14:00 Biblical examples of spiritual abuse
17:34 Yes, but what about….
19:49 What are the unique effects of abuse from a spiritual leader compared to abuse from someone else?
28:38 If someone comes to your church who has been abused in another church: here’s one thing to do and one thing not to do
32:15 How to spot abusers before they abuse. Vetting processes in seminaries and on pastor search committees. How to assess whether you’re in a healthy church.
