Body Anatomy & Church Health Development
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Rev. John Marshall Crowe, B.A., M.Div., D.Min., APC

Updated 2/22/08


Unhealthy

Healthy

Unhealthy

Fused pastor/church

Intimate pastor/church

Distant/unconnected/cut off pastor/church

     

Characteristics

Characteristics

Characteristics

Aaron & the Golden Calf

1 Peter 5:1-3

III John 9-10

In the world

In the world but not of it

Not in the world nor of it

Accommodating

Transforming

Escapist, other worldly

Others are Lord

Jesus is Lord

I am lord

Does what the group wants

Does what the Lord leads

Does things their way only

Focus power on enabling

Focus power on equipping others
Focus power on controlling

Sympathetic savior to fix it

Empathetic leader

Callous dictator

No freedom from family of origin

Freedom from family of origin

Pseudo freedom from family of origin

Seek to live out the expectations of others with a weak unclear identity.

Seeks to live out of a focused calling with a clear identity

Impose expectations on others to prop up a pseudo identity

Others control

Self-control

Control of others.

Powerless

Power used to build up others

Power used to build up self

Out of balance

Balanced

Out of balance

Weak doctrinal boundaries for the mind

Healthy doctrinal boundaries for the mind.

Rigid  doctrinal boundaries for the mind

Weak relational boundaries for the heart

Healthy relational boundaries for the heart.

Rigid relational boundaries for the heart

Weak spiritual boundaries for the soul.

Healthy spiritual boundaries for the soul.

Rigid spiritual boundaries for the soul.

Weak behavioral boundaries for the body

Healthy behavioral boundaries for the body.

Rigid behavioral boundaries for the body.

Inclusive/pluralistic

Mission oriented and transformational

Exclusive/fortress mentality.

Morally lax, cheap grace

Healthy morality, biblical, grace-based

Moralistic & legalistic. law, shame, condemnation.

Sexual affairs

Sexual integrity.

Pseudo Sexual integrity and Sexual abuse

Divided soul

Undivided Soul.

Pseudo Undivided Soul.

Pastor/church fused with weak or no emotional boundaries

Pastor/church interdependent with healthy emotional boundaries.

Pastor/Church with rigid emotional boundaries.

Enmeshed/fused with the feelings of others and controlled by the anxiety of others

In contact with their own feelings and those of others, but not controlled by them.

Out of touch with their feelings and the feelings of others. Attempt to control the feelings of others.

Easily infected by the anxiety of others

Not easily infected by other’s anxiety.

Infect others with their anxiety.

Always changing (chameleon)

They have a healthy ability to adapt to change while maintaining identity. 

They don’t change but force others to change.

You & them

I, you, & us

Me, Myself, & I

Triangulated relationships

Freedom from triangulation

Triangulates others

Pseudo self

Authentic self

pseudo self

Need to feel safe by staying fused

The Need to Feel Safe is met by healthy well balanced relationships and separatedness.

The Need to Feel Safe is met by playing a role, keeping others at a distance, and being a control freek.

Self's deepest need for community & sense of self finds a pseudo solution in fusion with others.

Self's deepest need for community & a sense of self is met in relationship with God

Self's deepest need for community & a sense of self is met by claiming they are special and thus can live as if they are an island.

Authority is unknown apart from the group

Authority is internal but is affirmed externally by others.

Authority is external for it is bolstered by a position and not the character of the person.

Respect is unknown apart from the group

Respect is both shared and earned.

Respect is demanded using Scripture alone.

Very anxious to keep the peace at all costs

Serene, at peace with themselves and the world around them. Lives in and operates from the peace of God which passes all understanding for it guards their heart and mind. 

Very anxious to maintain control of others for control equals peace with the appearance of peace and Slick professionalism.

Lacks the ability to focus

Pastor and healthy leaders are able to focus

Overly focused tunnel vision

Anxious over function

Orderly functioning

Pastor or church feel used

Out of control chaos and conflict

Anxiety/chaos does not control

Very anxious control of chaos

Reactive

Proactive

Reactive

No ability to form goals

Able to form goals

Impose goals on others.

Rampant Congregational henpecking

Very Little Congregational Henpecking and/or has little impact.

Those practicing Congregational Henpecking are identified, rebuked, disciplined and sometimes expelled.

Congregational Henpecking Increases fusion by anxious leadership

Congregational Henpecking is defused by non-anxious leadership

Congregational Henpecking is eliminated through manipulation.

No clear personal identity

Clear personal identity

Pastor or church feel abused

No individual freedom

Individual freedom

No Individual freedom