Can you explain that? I'm not disputing you, I just am curious as to what you mean.
"Can you explain that? I'm not disputing you, I just am curious as to what you mean."
Churches, and church organziations, have a way of killing the wounded.
I've watched any number of clergy who've been found to be in need of emotional care - such as marital difficulties, problem child, prescription drug addition, etc. - summarily bounced out of the ministry.
In my case, I started wondering about my career choice (clergy) soon after I got into a nasty church, and I made the mistake of mentioning that fact. That winter the church used that confusion as reason to ask for a new pastor.
The upshot is that clergy soon learn that they cannot openly deal with issues. Pastors, after all, are supposed to be on a pedestal!!! They live in fear that someone will find out that they're in counseling. They learn to put out that infamous "pastoral veneer" which doesn't allow anyone to know what is really going on inside of them. They hide any evidence of anger, and in so doing usually end up making themselves sick (or acting out, including sexually).
Shall I go on?
I think it's tough for clergy and their spouses to find good peer relationships in a congregation. The pastor's wife is expected to be like Caesar's wife.