One night, in a Church Diaconate meeting, three issues of Church discipline came up in the same meeting -- however just one did not rest peacefully at the end of the meeting. Such issues are always unfortunate, and cause much awkwardness, soul-searching, and tension. One would rather not have them in the Church. In fact, some would think that something has gone wrong with the Church if such things come up at all. Yet my late wife Mirjam kept reminding me -- and I agree -- that such things are just as much a part of a thriving Church as are the things that bring joy and encouragement. One cannot separate them from each other. The result may be that one has neither.
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