Crazy person in church; what to do?

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This person sounds very ill - either some psychosis or perhaps some kind of dementia. Suggestions you have gotten here are good in terms of protecting yourself, children and other parishioners.

The other concern of course, is for this woman’s well-being. She needs help. If she has relatives in the area you may want to contact them. Do you have an Outreach worker with mental health skills? Perhaps there is someone in you community, not necessarily connected with the parish that could help. Do you have a local mental health clinic? If so, reach out to them.

You may want to call the police and tell them about your fears for safety, With the cigarette snatching incident it sounds as if she if becoming more intrusive. The police may be able to transport her to a psychiatric facility for evaluation/admission - even a potential involuntary admission.

I hope all who are posting here keep all of you and her in their prayers. What more is needed is some kind of intervention. Passively distancing her by re-keying locks is good for parish staff/children but probably increases her fear and distress.
 
Can you ask the pastor to meet with her briefly, to simply ask her to return the key?
 
garysibio said:
A .

We’ve also had people bring basketballs to chat with when they get bored.

As long as they aren’t disruptive, they are left alone. When they get nasty, we call the police.
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and that is the way to deal with parishioners or casual guests.

OP describes someone who is active in parish ministry and claiming to represent the church and the parish in her actions, and who evidently has been given some authority and latitude by the priest, possibly out of a mistaken charity.

I missed the part about the key. The locks should be changed today.
 
Thanks for all the kind responses and good advice; both public and private.

Here’s an update:

The parish council along with the Pastor and the Deacon all sat down in a meeting with this person where she informed them of her perception of my transgressions. It is clear that this woman is sick and delusional so they all informed her in no uncertain terms that I was in charge, and if she had any problems to talk to Father.

This worked for a couple of weeks; then things really escalated.

She started stalking me everywhere in town and perceiving that I was trying to hinder her, etc.

For example. She told me she heard where I spent New Years Eve and said she intended to go there next year.

This past Sunday she told me I’d be dead within a year. I told her not to curse me. She started shaking and yelling that she was god speaking. I called the police. She yelled at the officer that she had to get to me and she told him that our church would be gone within a year.

I spent the day at the court house getting a “stalking order” against her.
I go before the judge in the morning.

The locksmith is at the church now installing new locks.

She sent me another email wherein she details all of the horrific things that have happened to people who have come against her (aka “god’s church”). It’s truly foul; including, the death of a child.

I would really appreciate any and all prayers here. The law is on my side; I have plenty of evidence; but this woman is truly disturbed and needs our prayers as well.

Thanks All.
 
Geeez! Are you OK? You really don’t say.

Will pray for you and her.
 
Ugh! I am so sorry to hear that you were subjected to all that. This woman is clearly severely disturbed and really needs help. I think at the least, you should press charges, if she’s stalking you all over town, etc. It sounds like you’ve got plenty of evidence.
 
Just shaken for now. The abuse is on-going, however. The person is going around town telling people to tell me things. She has no job except to attack me at this point.

Thank God she doesn’t know where I live.

Thanks for prayers.
 
Good. I’m glad to hear you’re OK.

I have to agree with Matrix Refugee about pressing charges. Probably, it would help the authorities to get her the help she so desperately needs.
 
Regarding her emailing you, most email providers have rules in their terms regarding abusive and/or unwanted emails. You should send her an email informing her that under no circumstances is she to contact you at that email address. Send a copy to her, a copy to her email provider’s abuse department (Typically abuse@emailprovidername.com), and a copy to yourself. Save copies of the sent files as proof and for your records. Should she continue to contact you by email after that, forward a copy of the request you sent her to her provider, and ask them to take action according to their terms of service. It may take more than one complaint, but they may either suspend or end her email access. Some email programs also allow you to block unwanted contact, see if you can simply block her.

Hope you can have some peace from this person.
 
God bless you, you’re in my prayers. I hope that you find some peace of mind soon, and that this poor woman gets the help she needs.
 
InspiritCarol,

I hope you are doing well. You’ve been on my mind.

God bless you, and take care,

Asia
 
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