Moving On: Surviving the Grief of Forced Termination

by Deanna Harrison

THE SILENT EPIDEMIC OF FORCED TERMINATION AMONG CLERGY HAS FINALLY FOUND ITS VOICE IN MOVING ON. "Moving On should be required reading for any layperson who serves in church leadership." - Pastor James Shupp, Author, Who Killed My Church? "Deanna Harrison skillfully weaves biblical principles, psychological findings, and staggering statistics to provide hope that God can bring healing and recovery to individuals and families who face the trauma of forced termination. If you've experienced this heartache, or know someone who has, this book is a valuable resource." - Pastor David O. Dykes, Green Acres Baptist Church, Tyler, Texas "...very well done, spiritually and psychologically." - Dan McGee, Ph.D., Author, teacher, counselor President, Dan McGee Associates, Inc. "...chock full of solid theological and practical counsel..." - Susie Hawkins, Author, speaker, minister's wife, Dallas, Texas "...an essential read for all church folk...a lifesaving guide for those dealing with recovery from forced termination." - Debbie Tudor, MS, LPCS, Rockwall Counseling, PA NEARLY 1/3 OF MINISTERS ACROSS DENOMINATIONAL LINES EITHER HAVE OR WILL EXPERIENCE FORCED TERMINATION.

128 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 8, 2016

Reviews

[R.F. Gammon]

"Church families cannot walk on water, although many have drowned in trying." (paraphrase)
wow. I needed this.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every pastor who has been fired should read this book. Every family member of the pastor who has been let go should read it as well. (To be clear the forced termination in this book is not focused on moral failings).

The book is focused on helping a pastor and his family grieve well. Deanna is a pastor's wife whose husband was fired after 38 years in ministry. The pain she writes about is something she has experienced personally.

The book is structured around the stages of grief. I appreciated the emphasis on the journey. The book doesn't give you clear steps and a path. But it does serve as a roadmap and as a guide. The book never feels preachy. Instead it feels like Deanna sitting down next to you sharing in your pain.

I myself was "let go" from a church because of financial reasons. Without going into details, I had a lot of grief. The transition was awful and I wondered not just if I would, but if I could be in ministry again. I wish that I had read this book during that point. Even a few years later I still found it healing. But it would have been just what I needed.

I cannot recommend this enough for those who have found their ministries ending not on their own terms.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into the process of grieving loss of any kind but more specifically as a pastor's family after undeserved termination. A great help to both those enduring similar experiences but also to every serious church member, helping us to walk in their shoes.