Compassionately Addressing Divorce: A Redemptive Model of Ministry to Divorced Christian Leaders

This project is a textual and qualitative investigation of perceptions on divorced Christian leaders within the local church. Findings, based on interviews with thirty divorced Christian leaders, indicate that stigmatization of divorced leaders is perpetuated by church leadership more so than by the laity. Just as there are customary ways for churches to respond to physical death and other crises, the project recommends the implementation of an intentional redemptive ministry response model when the death of a marriage either occurs or appears imminent. Compassionately Addressing Divorce , a proposed divorce intervention and recovery program that addresses ten common themes from the findings, is designed to assist Christian leaders, their families, and congregations in de-stigmatizing divorce as it fosters healing and restoration through the compassionate ministry of the local congregation.