| Current trends and statistics reveal preaching pastors are resigning or being fired at an alarming rate and leaving behind congregations in spiritual crisis as a result of their reckless or immoral behavior. When this type of clergy misconduct takes place, any successor is going to face extraordinary preaching challenges requiring special attention and understanding in order to help the church spiritually recover. Unfortunately, there are very few resources available to help in these difficult situations and as a result, the success rate for replacement preachers is very low which in turn is creating a cycle of damaged pulpits.;In order to provide a resource and help increase the success rate for replacement preachers and spiritual recovery, this project is focused on how to proclaim God's Word to churches recovering from the reckless or immoral behavior of a previous preacher. The biblical and theological implications for preaching in the wake of a leadership crisis were explored in detail, which entailed a thorough investigation of every occurrence in both the Old and New Testaments. As a result, a four-step preaching methodology emerged which established the basis for this project.;Additionally, a relevant literature review was conducted investigating crisis intervention theory, group development theory, and crisis communication theory in order to determine if these psychological disciplines provided any additional insight or support for the four-step preaching methodology.;Finally, using a quantitative research approach, a national survey of preachers who were called upon to preach to a church recovering from the reckless or immoral behavior of a predecessor was conducted in order to compare their approach and results to the four-step preaching methodology.;The results of this research not only provide important insight into the spiritual damage that can take place within a congregation resulting from the departure of a reckless or immoral preacher, but also provide a four-step preaching methodology that will increase the success rate for replacement preachers and a church's spiritual recovery. |
