Book Review: Ministry and Community: Recognizing, Healing, and Preventing Ministry Impairment

Ministry and Community: Recognizing, Healing, and Preventing Ministry Impairment. Len Sperry (Collegeville, MN, Liturgical Press, 2000). 124 pp. $11.95 (paper) Ministry impairment has become increasingly problematic for the church. Especially through media reporting of professional abuses over this past decade, the mystique that once served as a mantle of clergy protection has evanesced. As a result of exposed ministry misconduct, the negative notoriety of celebrated cases, and the sizeable monetary settlements awarded to victims, dioceses and religious organizations are implementing greater ministry precautions. For example, a more rigorous and selective screening of church candidates. the implementation of ministry formation and training programs, and on-going performance supervision of both ordained and team assistants have become standard practice. Ministry and Community: Recognizing, Healing, and Preventing Ministry Impairmentby Len Sperry examines impairment on two critical levels: 1) the dynamics, behaviors and pathologies of sundry personalities, and 2) the infrastructure and culture of the church community which can foster and reinforce such pathological and inappropriate behaviors. The title of Ministry and Communityis a most apt and accurate description of the relationship between individual and institutional impairments. Len Sperry, M.D., Ph.D., is vice-chair and professor of psychiatry at the Medical College of Wisconsin. He has consulted widely with religious organizations and has published some 200 articles and book chapters and 30 books, including DSM-IVPersonality Disorders and Cognitive-Behavior Therapy of Personality Disorders, published in 1999. Sperry writes with recognized competence, accomplished authority, and a wealth of experience. In a culture that often accentuates the role of the individual, he comprehends the underlying organizational dynamics that often influence and perhaps reinforce ministry impairment. Sperry, a cognitive-behavioral therapist. characterizes the traits and estimates treatments for the remedy of personality disorders. Ministry and Community consists of ten chapters and an appendix. Topics for these chapters range from "Ministry and Community Today: An Overview"; "Narcissistic Behavior in Ministry"; "Sexually Abusing Behavior in Ministry"; "Psychopathic Behavior in Ministry" ; "Borderline Behavior in Ministry"; "Manic-Depressive Behavior in Ministry"; "Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior in Ministry"; "Dep ressive Behavior in Ministry"; "Passive-Aggressive Behavior in Ministry", concluding with "Fro m Healing to Wholeness in Ministry." Each chapter begins with case studies of the disorders. a description of the dynamics of the personality. its various profiles and related spiritual issues, a precis of clinical and pastoral implications, and concludes with organizational strategies and psychotherapeutic interventions needed for treatment. DSM-IVreferences and personality experts are cited throughout the text. The appendix, entitled "Fitness for Ministry: Indicators and Criteria," is a superb candidate evaluation resource. Sperry explores the moral, spiritual, and psychological goals needed in ministry and proposes a table of six criteria for ministry fitness . The appendix and the ministry fitness table alone make this book a timely and notable contribution in reestablishing high professional ministry standards. Sherry writes with a candid, honest pen: There are several actions that formation staff and administrators of religious organizations can take to correct and prevent the turmoil generated by psychopathic ministers. The first action is careful screening of candidates. It goes without saying that careful screening is mandatory for entry into ministry preparation programs, but careful screening is also essential in filling ministry positions. Although many religious Orders and dioceses acknowledge the