There is another forum I go to that is helpful in this topic. http://www.spiritualabuse.com Just thought I'd share a helpful resource. Church leaders, for the most part, are not equipped to handle these types of issues and tend to "spiritualize" them. The church for me was one huge denial factory. I became addicted to church work and buried my pain for a long time that way. Just because the men are leaders does not mean they are healthy. That was my mistake... believing because they had authority that they were authorities. I've found more help outside the church in a professional setting with trained helpers. Then as I became familiar with what safe people looked like... I was able to seek them out on my own, even in the church.

Hope this is helpful to ya'll. Middle Tennessee is definitely the buckle of the bible belt! I haven't actually found a church here that I can tolerate. Small groups of people talking from the heart is my type of church for now. As soon as it become organized I freak out.

Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in one pretty and well preserved piece...but to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, worn out and defiantly shouting "Wow! What a ride!"