The Church in My Rearview Mirror: A Case Study in Forced Termination

This is a book for ministers and lay leaders. It is my story of a lost ministry in a church that was in every way I could imagine the best place in the world for me to be a pastor. I have attempted to tell the story in a way that allows you to live it with me and to feel the joy and the pain I experienced. And I have attempted to analyze what happened, to make sense of it, and to take responsibility for my part in it.

I am one of the estimated one in ten ministers who eventually left the ministry after a forced termination. But I still feel a deep affinity for individuals who dedicate themselves to lead congregations, to be present and available, to help, to guide, and to inspire.

It is my hope that this book will in some way help churches and ministers avoid the trauma I experienced. And if you are a minister who has already experienced a similar loss, it is my aim that this book will provide some comfort and support as you work through what happened.

Tim Sledge

Note: This book is based on excerpts from my spiritual autobiography, Goodbye Jesus.