We expect our leaders to be better than we are.
We assume, deep inside ourselves, that a person who can lead an organization well can lead themselves well. We believe that the actions of leaders we see in the world demonstrate values like effectiveness, organization, and inspiration. We project that these actions reflect the inner lives of the people presenting them to us.
In reality, people are not always what they seem. Leaders face pressures for which they are often unprepared and which sometimes overwhelm them. Their own expectations, and the expectations they feel from the rest of us, oten drive them to find relief in unhealthy ways. This particularly true in our faith communities, where expectations are often even higher.
In Fallen Pastor, Ray Carroll illustrates the pain that results from this pattern of behavior by telling the stories of pastors, including his own. With honesty and authenticity, he tells us how he became an Evangelical Christian pastor, and how his calling became the “mistress” that demanded his attentions. He also shares with us the stories of other pastors who have experienced similar demands.
The stories Ray tells are often frustrating and painful, filled with disappointment and heartache. In many ways the hardest parts to hear are about how churches have responded when pastors have succumbed to the pressures facing them.
Yet, Fallen Pastor is a book of restoration and promise. Many of the stories Ray tells are filled with new life, new growth, and deeper faith. There is hope. Ray provides clear, tangible recommendations for healing, and for moving away from the kinds of expectations that contribute to the challenges he describes.
What expectations do you have for your leaders? How do you respond when those expectations are not met?
What expectations of others cause you the most distress?
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