The Bullied Pulpit: The Church as a Site for Workplace Bullying

• In Event: Secular and Sacred: Communication and Organizing in Religious Organizations

Abstract

Churches challenge typical notions of power in organizations as the religious leader is continually scrutinized by the church body. Within the singular church, the leader in name is the pastor, but the one who holds the power is not always the same. Burnout of pastors is well recognized, but the effects of congregational abuses of pastors are not. Stories of abused pastors from blogs and listservs are used to extend the research on workplace bullying.

Author

• Kristina Drumheller, West Texas A&M University