Attachment and Spiritual Maturity 70
them for Christian leadership. It is suggested that what is discussed the least in seminary,
is the very thing that can be connected to almost every problem research has indicated is
prevalent among pastors (e.g., burnout, sexual misconduct, unrealistic expectations,
feelings of inadequacy, fear of failure, loneliness, isolation, and poor marital adjustment)
(Hall, 1997). This statement holds true for both pastors who come for more training and
those who are in training to become pastors. Hall (1997) claims each of these problems
can be traced back to relational deficits. Religious training needs to include more
understanding of the selfof students and their relational deficits.
Without secure adult relationships in the students lives, some significant roots of
spiritual maturity are lacking. These roots need to be explored and strengthened. Students
need to be developing spiritual maturity so they have spiritual authority and are equipped
to lead others. Spiritual authority flows out of an intimate relationship with God. This
study suggests that a secure adult attachment style in relationships is related to a intimate relationship with God. Therefore students' adult relationships need to be examined as
well as their ability to function as spiritual leaders.
The implications of this study on those who teach in religious training institutions
is critical. Training in fact, begins with those who instruct and lead themselves. It has
been suggested that before Christian educators can reform their practice, they will need to
be reformed themselves (Smallbones, 1995). Both teacher and student alike need to be
willing to let God lead (Botton et al. 1997). Where do they need to be willing to let Him
lead? First of all into their attachment histories. Facing the pain in their own adult
relationships or lack thereof in order to establish secure relationships may be difficult for
some. But the roots of spiritual maturity need to be developed through the establishment
of new working models of relationship that will bring greater possibility for mature
spirituality. Teachers and pastors cannot model and lead what they have not experienced.
They need to experience the connectedness between their secure adult relationships and
their relationship with God. The confidence and security arising from secure adult
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