Dragons are mythical creatures that breathe fire and smoke, are covered with impenetrable scales, can do serious damage, and often guard great treasure.
I am using these fantastic beasts as a metaphor for difficult people in a church who can mount personal attacks on the leadership or on the church generally, seem often to be impervious to counsel, and may well obstruct the church moving forward in its vision.
What is a dragon?
A person is a dragon not because they are a pain in the neck to the pastor but because of their destructive actions and words with regard to the church and its leadership.
How big is too big?
During the depths of lockdown I was out walking having a pastoral conversation when we bumped into someone who went …