Power abuse by church leaders : a case study

Abstract

The research attempt to bring the pain and trauma of rejection, which the candidate for the ministry who has not succeeded in the selection process undergoes /experiences together with their families and communities of faith and that need pastoral care and intervention using a model to pastorally heal are brought to the fore. The Zionist governance, which the hierarchy is in Councils, Sessions, Regions, Synods and Connection. Clergy and elders give the specific tasks to committees lead and these structures are prone to abuse just like any other human organisation. The research evolves with the perspective emphasis the misuse/abuse of power by the leadership and with the thrust of healing pastorally the candidate, his church environs and in addition, community. This research will be a search for a pastoral care model to be used within the church and a response that is relevant and contextual to the Zion Church in Southern Africa (ZCSA). The researcher’s intention with the study is to come up with a pastoral care approach that may be used within the Church and equip applicants/congregants how to deal with leaders that abuse power unnecessarily. The researcher became aware that many people are hurting quietly. When People hurt silently it breeds confusion, especially when treated without love and care by the church, which is expected from her as attributes at all, times. The questions to ask, “How does one give pastoral care to the traumatized congregants and the hurting church while also hurting? Does the church have a pastoral care program to cater for hurting congregants or ministerial candidates when their selection is finally accepted?” The scenario unpacked the weakness in the provision of pastoral care within the denomination in relation to the process entering ministry. The study raises several questions. The researcher believes that there is a gap or rather a challenge in how the question of rejecting application is handled and followed up. Within the Christian principles, Christ himself was loving, patient and caring person. Therefore, within the church setup, everybody relies on those systems and procedures that are in place already. The impact of neglecting such guidance will result in various forms of problematic and harmful practices that disadvantage the potential ministerial candidates. These were problems faced but not discussed or shared with anybody.