The Proper Care of Snakes: Managing Personality Disorders in Congregational Settings

The American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5 (DSM-5) defines ten personality disorders. According to their statistics, a congregation consisting of 100 adults, if the membership is representative of the US population as a whole, will have 15 individuals with a personality disorder. Some of these present challenges for assimilation. Others are likely to create turmoil or conflict. Still others may be related to in ways that are not helpful to them. Yet most clergy are not trained in recognizing personality disorders and, as a result, easily fall prey to relationship traps that exacerbate problems rather than managing them. This book provides church leaders with a guide to understanding personality disorders. The goal is not to promote labeling but to provide helps in recognizing personality types in order to facilitate tailored responses and improved pastoral care.