Welcome to The Space Between the Arts. I created this blog as a place to post my writing and reviews on the arts so as to not clog my usual blog with reviews. Feel free to visit my other blog, The Space Between My Ears for my writing on my life, on faith, politics, and whatever else happens to fascinate me at the moment.
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Recent Comments
Hi Tyler,
I am delighted to announce that ‘this baby’ has been birthed! You were among the first to help get the word out about this doctoral research project. I have referenced this fact in the Acknowledgements in my book. I continue to appreciate your help with that venture.
Now it is the busy and joyful season of Christmas Week. I am hoping that when you can, that you will be able to post information about my book. That would be a great help to get the word out about this research.
Please let people know that they can purchase a copy of the book by contacting me at: info@churchexiters.com. I will have books available. People can request an autographed copy if they choose. I should soon have details about the cost of the book and postage.
My website is: http://www.ChurchExiters.com.
If anyone is interested in reviewing a copy of the book, let me know and I can get you connected.
Again, THANK YOU for your previous support and for your future help!
Barb Orlowski
MERRY CHRISTMAS!
The following is the front cover, a brief book description, and the endorsements for the back cover:
Book Info
Spiritual Abuse Recovery
Dynamic Research on Finding a Place of Wholeness
By Barbara M. Orlowski
Book Description
What factors contribute to active Christians in ministry leaving their church and becoming exiting statistics? Every year dedicated Christian people leave churches because of spiritual abuse. The stories of people who left their home church because
of a negative and hurtful experience paint a picture of a widespread occurrence which beckons consideration by church leaders and church congregants alike.
Spiritual abuse, the misuse of spiritual authority to maltreat followers in the Christian Church, is a complex issue. This book shows how people processed their grief after experiencing spiritual abuse in their local church and how they rediscovered spiritual harmony. Their spiritual journey shows how one may grow through this devastating experience.
This book offers a thoughtful look at the topic of spiritual recovery from clergy abuse through the eyes of those who have experienced it. It invites church leaders to consider this very real dysfunction in the Church today and aims to demonstrate a path forward to greater freedom in Christ after a season of disillusionment with church leadership.
Endorsements for Back Cover
“In an age of increasing calls for strong church leadership, this book is a gift to church leaders and those who have been severely hurt and abused in our churches. Through careful research and an insider’s perspective, Barb has opened up both pathways for healing from church abuse and insights for leadership to ensure that potential future abuse is stopped.”
—Alan Jamieson, author of A Churchless Faith
“What we refer to as spiritual abuse was a concern for Jesus in his earthly ministry and it is a common problem today. It is, therefore, surprising that more attention is not given to it by today’s Christian community. Barb Orlowski, however, does take it seriously as she offers insight into the causes of bad church experiences and how to recover from them. Her counsel alerts people to the dangers of spiritual abuse, and if leaders hear her, they will be less likely to become part of the problem . . . I encourage you to read it.”
—Ken Blue, author of Healing Spiritual Abuse
“Dr. Orlowski’s research has provided a balance for various perspectives on the experience of woundedness. She listens to the voices of the wounded and lets them inform us of their reality of feeling disappointment and disenfranchisement, tragedy and turbulence in the Church . . . For recovery, Dr. Orlowski gives an excellent starting point—the voice of the wounded—and follows that with the grace of God demonstrated through hearing the voice of God and basing recovery on the Word of God.”
—Kirk E. Farnsworth, author of Wounded Workers