Covert Narcissistic Personality Disorder prevalent in Church Leadership

[B. W.]

Several Studies are out now. One from Canada suggest statistically that 1 out of 5 Pastors have what is called a Covert Narcissistic Personality Disorder.

If this is true, then have you encountered one?

The Covert type is different from the Overt Type. They are more subtle but just as dangerous. Under the leadership of either these types stain the name of Jesus and cause many good people to leave the Establishment churches.

I have encountered both types. For more info - here are two articles. There are more so feel free to researh on your own too.

Covert Narcissistic Personality Disorder prevalent in Church Leadership

PDF from Study on Clergy and Narcissistic Personality Disorder

1 out of 5 is a large number no matter how you cut it when it comes to clergy. however, the other 4 in many cases are sincere christian leaders following Jesus mixed in with others of various degrees of sincerity toward Jesus.

Not here to bash anyone but help expose what needs exposed.

It appears to me that many people attend bible colleges, then unleashed as pastors/clergy having no real life experience of skills in dealing with the reality of people and all their issues. In other words, many become pastors that are not fit to be due to the emotional baggage they hold on too.

Please do research on this topic and if you find yourself in such a place run by one of these covert types or overt types - head for the hills...

Again have you encounter such leadership in church or even on the Job?
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[B. W.]

Looking into this Subject more...

Reviewing the topic and research on this matter of NPD in the leadership of the church is astounding. If true, then the modern western church is governed by more covert NPD and overt NPD types and both types in the modern church sphere are of a large per capita ratio than the general population of any nation.

This is distributing and possibly one reason people drop out of churches so often and why it is difficult to find a decent Church these days.

If the data is correct, then, things are pretty bad and most of what one finds in church is churchanity, games, jumping thru hoops, passive aggressive approaches, the exalting incompetent people in lay leadership position, the seeker sensitive-market drive model, etc and etc...

Wow
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[Kurieuo]

Wow, so low? I thought it'd be 4 in 5 pastors, also leaders included in that. Narcissists always attracted to leadership, control and the like. Perhaps this feeds into your other recent thread on that couple shacking together?

[SoCalExile]

Sociopaths gravitate to positions of power and influence.

[SoCalExile]

Looking into this Subject more...

Reviewing the topic and research on this matter of NPD in the leadership of the church is astounding. If true, then the modern western church is governed by more covert NPD and overt NPD types and both types in the modern church sphere are of a large per capita ratio than the general population of any nation.

This is distributing and possibly one reason people drop out of churches so often and why it is difficult to find a decent Church these days.

If the data is correct, then, things are pretty bad and most of what one finds in church is churchanity, games, jumping thru hoops, passive aggressive approaches, the exalting incompetent people in lay leadership position, the seeker sensitive-market drive model, etc and etc...

Wow
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Add to that the "turn or burn" types that guilt their congregations for their own benefit.

Mark Driscoll just happened to get caught, there's many like him who supported him.

[crochet1949]

Describe the 'ideal pastor/evangelist'.

[Kurieuo]

Jesus.

[RickD]

crochet wrote:
Describe the 'ideal pastor/evangelist'.

Kurieuo wrote:
Jesus.

Good description K.

[B. W.]

Yes, Jesus makes the best evangelist, pastor, teacher, prophet, apostle

Now back to the topic...

The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to help us be more like Jesus and less like ourselves one day and issue at a time. I think it is here where folks like Mark Driscoll and others stray. They need to control the Holy Spirit - be in control- because they love power more than Jesus Christ.

Amazing is how people are so willing to place themselves under such abuse of power thinking they are dong God a great service!
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[Kurieuo]

crochet wrote:
Describe the 'ideal pastor/evangelist'.

Kurieuo wrote:
Jesus.

Good description K.

Surely as a Christian you know who Jesus is such that you could describe?

Oh hang on, I forgot. You weren't electeded.

[Jac3510]

Jesus is the only evangelist/missionary.

[crochet1949]

Actually -- Jesus Christ was Not a prophet or an apostle.

There Are guidelines given For pastors, elders, bishops / deacons. 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:6 - 9 or so.
There are definitely people who are in the role of pastors/ evangelists who misuse their roles -- dishonor God / mislead their followers. They will answer to God for the harm they do.

Do we sometimes put People up on a pedestal that they are doomed to fall off of -- and Then point fingers at them and want to throw Christianity out the window or just give people an excuse to not go to church? Maybe we Should be praying more for our leaders. Spiritual and otherwise.

[RickD]

Jesus was not a prophet?

I think you need to reread your bible.

[Jac3510]

Acts 3:22-23 (cf Deut 18:15)
Heb 3:1

[crochet1949]

Jesus Christ = Son of God. Not simply another prophet -- but He Did fulfill the role Of a prophet because He foretold His own death, burial and bodily resurrection.
Moses was a type of Christ.