Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Strange Burden

A minister sometimes has a strange burden -- in that things he or she knows, which are confidential, may impinge on the life of the Church as a whole. Take this example. A minister has counselled a couple in a case of domestic violence. A man has assaulted his wife. There is high tension, and the police have visited. But there have been no arrests, no charges. Next thing, someone nominates this man as a deacon in the Church. Does the minister reveal what has happened? OBSERVATION: In short, does the minister keep silent and carry the burden, or does he or she shift the burden by revealing private information? Whether he reveals it or not, it could mean trouble. A minister may share such information with Church elders, but then the elders have the same dilemma ...

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