Avoiding Harm

Ministers will often think on what will be good for the Church. Sometimes it may be profitable to think on what will be harmful for the Church. In my own ministr(ies), when I have spoken about harm, I have most often spoken about the harm which may be caused by foregrounding the minister too much (in spiritual ministry). This is of course a Congregational attitude. But it is not only the minister who may be foregrounded. One may foreground the young, the elderly, preachers on rosters, White people, Black people, leaders of groups, minister's visitation, and so on, all at the expense of a balanced "ministry by members" (the priesthood of believers) which is said to be the sine qua non (without which not) of the Congregational Church.