Larry Yeagley

The Truth About Grief is the most comprehensive history of the death and dying movement I…

Listening Love was the title of a booklet I read and lost many years ago. I was unable to track it down, but I remember the message: there is a time to speak only after a time to listen. Christians need bigger ears and smaller mouths. 

During…

Ed seriously considered leaving the ministry. He felt pulled by church adminis­trators, parishioners, family, and his own unrealistic expectations. Leaving seemed the only way to avoid burnout.

Fortunately, a veteran pastor sensed…

Retirement is a forbidden word for those who say, “I’ll be a pastor until the day I die.” For others, retirement cannot come too soon; they are more than ready to escape the pressures and expectations that so often robbed…

"I don't know much about dying," drawled the cabby in the front seat,' 'but I do know I'm not afraid of it. You see, in Appalachia, where I was raised, no one ever dies alone. We do what we call 'sittin' up with.' The people you love never…

My hospital roommate, the victim of an automobile accident, received a visit from his pastor. It was a disaster. The pastor acted like a bashful schoolboy. The conversation was tense and painfully long, and closure was a gigantic problem.…

Fourteen widows and I sat around a table. During introductions a young widow began hesitatingly to relate her heartbreaking story. Within minutes all fourteen were weeping simultaneously, proof that here was an environment in which…

After years of research, George Bonanna makes the claim in this book that empirical evidence does not support the “stages of grief” idea. Adjusting to the loss of a loved one is complex and takes a different trajectory for everyone who loses.…

Twenty-five years ago I attended a weekend intensive conducted by William Worden. At that time he did not believe it wise to establish a new profession called grief counseling. In this fourth edition, he is of the same opinion. He advocates…

After speaking at dozens of clergy conferences and bereavement seminars, I am deeply concerned about the men and women in America's pulpits. They are expected to do a work of healing while their own gaping wounds go undressed. Their own emotional,…

When death strikes a parishioner's family, when their world comes crashing down, they need a quick response from their pastor. Pastors who really care will drop everything to be with parishioners at the critical time…

Internship and ultimatum. Internship I welcomed because I had dreamed of being a minister ever since I was 8. The ultimatum was a surprise.

In my desire to succeed I set out door to door to raise the goal for mission funds assigned…

John Smith is a young and dynamic pastor. He loves his work. He adores his family and is committed to its health and to the growth of his church. But right now he finds himself in a dilemma.

Recently his conference…

Professional loneliness is a virus among ministers. Unlike the early apostles who went out two by two, most pastors work alone. When this lone ranger problem is ignored, loneliness drives some ministers to seek another…

Editorial note: In the January 2002 issue of Ministry, we published an article by Marvin Moore entitled "Recovery and Pastoral Ministry." Letters of disagreement with the article vied with letters of praise. As a result…

Ministering to families of the terminally 111 ideally begins before the death occurs. Grief following loss has fewer complications if families have received adequate care prior to the death. The pastor can help them…

Ministering to families of the terminally ill ideally begins before the death occurs. Grief following loss has fewer complications if families have received adequate care prior to the death. The pastor can help them…

Any pastor harboring an illusion of immortality will be hindered as he or she attempts to minister to a seriously ill parishioner. It is vital that we consider the inevitability of personal death. If not, the parishioner…

Editor’s Note: In part one of this series, which appeared in March 2008, the author discussed grief care and an appropriate pastoral response to those who grieve. In this concluding article, he further elaborates upon that response.

As pastors, how often we feel totally helpless in assisting parishioners through grief. I remember the first time I was assigned a pastorate, substituting for its regular minister. Two weeks later a church member’s…

Who are you angry at?” questioned a visitor as he shook my hand after the worship service. He left before I had a chance to reply. I mulled over his question for weeks. I pulled previous sermons from my file (not…

Grief Recovery is a five-week support program that utilizes audio-visuals, group dynamics, didactics, and assignments to bring the lives of hurting people back into focus. The first article in this series described the need for Grief Recovery…