Every person, including pastors and church leaders, deals with hurts and hang-ups, and those hurts and hang-ups can easily turn into bad habits when stress and pressures mount. But rather than allow bad habits to form—and lead to moral failures as the stress of ministry grows—leaders have an opportunity to regain their true identities in Christ.

In this episode, Erika talks more about recovering these true identities with Irene Rollins, an author and church leader who studies human behaviors. In 2012, Rollins joined her husband in leading a church relaunch. The pressures and stress in her life, marriage, and ministry mounted, ultimately leading to alcoholism. But several events, including a church merger, helped Rollins regain her identity.

Now sober for 7½ years, Rollins discusses the ways leaders can reframe their shame, experience freedom, and avoid making mistakes that can create legal challenges, hardships, and heartache for their ministries. 

“Is a Merger the Right Next Step for Your Church?” by attorney Erika C. Cole

Episode 23: “Healthy Leaders, Healthy Churches, Reduced Legal Liability”

Episode 17: “Pastoral Accountability for Healthy Churches”

Reframe Your Shame, by Irene Rollins

Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here.

Questions? We welcome them! Please email Erika Cole at [email protected]. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode.

See all episodes of Church Law.

The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry.

Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com.

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