As the husband of a PCA women’s ministry director who was fired for blowing the whistle, thank you for this. The way the senior pastor has been and continues to be protected at the cost of my wife and our family has been unimaginably hurtful. One elder even said “my job is to protect my pastor.” A shepherd saying his job is to protect another shepherd rather than the sheep. At least he was honest and actually said it out loud so as to remove any doubt where his priorities lay.
Thanks for creating a space to have these discussions. I know Darkness to Light has a great program with important safeguards to prevent child sex abuse in churches. Also your book, A Church Called Tov is a practical tool for pastors. I think it's important to maintain order in the church. The Peacemaker is a great book about resolving conflict in general, but it's great for churches who need a system for handling grievances in general. I am not a pastor but I have tried to be a positive force within the church so I've read a lot of these types of books. At this point, I am just doing my best to be a light through my blog, within my family and with the people I meet day to day. And I am really enjoying studying the Bible for myself too - so far, that gives me the sense of order I need.
Injustice came to mind. The lack of God’s “TOV” in life, especially where God’s “TOV” is supposed to be the well that bubbles over - that never runs dry - from which thirst “eternally”(as if we really grasp what that means) - and that “TOV” is the true essence of Life for ALL!
I’m sorry. I’m babbling. I should be busy doing STUFF that will distract me from “TOV” for all. Thank you Scot and Bob for a GOOD WORD!!!
My experience, as a pastor, is the push to be part of those who have “the right belief system” because that is success. And/or,build your kingdom of which the “bank” accounts of big buildings/real estate, of numbers of people(as if satan takes us up to a high place and says”See all those people? They can be yours, IF...”.
Please don’t mistake my rambling for envy or any form of jealousy. In my 33+ years of being a pastor, I’ve pastored nine congregations, and have known 99% of the people by name and their stories. My heart breaks, not for the 1% I didn’t and don’t get to know, the nones and domes I get to call “friends” but will only participate in the “TOV” space of church suppers that will welcome everybody.
And my heart breaks over my shortcomings of missing the proverbial boat of being there for someone “just because.”
I was friends on with Christopher Stroop (now Chrissy Stroop) on Twitter until he started acting divisive and advocating a furtherance of fissures in American society, much like foreign paid operatives act. After confirmation that his activities were akin to those of a Russian troll, I blocked him and went on w my life.
That writing a book has given Chrissy a platform in evangelicalism caught me off guard. But isn’t that the way operatives wind themselves into influencing our country, if in fact Stroop’s alleged operative-like activity were to actually mean that he is one.
As the husband of a PCA women’s ministry director who was fired for blowing the whistle, thank you for this. The way the senior pastor has been and continues to be protected at the cost of my wife and our family has been unimaginably hurtful. One elder even said “my job is to protect my pastor.” A shepherd saying his job is to protect another shepherd rather than the sheep. At least he was honest and actually said it out loud so as to remove any doubt where his priorities lay.
I am sorry, Aaron, for what your wife and family are going through. It is all so wrong, and the wounded sheep suffer. Power propping up power - UGH.
Thanks for creating a space to have these discussions. I know Darkness to Light has a great program with important safeguards to prevent child sex abuse in churches. Also your book, A Church Called Tov is a practical tool for pastors. I think it's important to maintain order in the church. The Peacemaker is a great book about resolving conflict in general, but it's great for churches who need a system for handling grievances in general. I am not a pastor but I have tried to be a positive force within the church so I've read a lot of these types of books. At this point, I am just doing my best to be a light through my blog, within my family and with the people I meet day to day. And I am really enjoying studying the Bible for myself too - so far, that gives me the sense of order I need.
Injustice came to mind. The lack of God’s “TOV” in life, especially where God’s “TOV” is supposed to be the well that bubbles over - that never runs dry - from which thirst “eternally”(as if we really grasp what that means) - and that “TOV” is the true essence of Life for ALL!
I’m sorry. I’m babbling. I should be busy doing STUFF that will distract me from “TOV” for all. Thank you Scot and Bob for a GOOD WORD!!!
My experience, as a pastor, is the push to be part of those who have “the right belief system” because that is success. And/or,build your kingdom of which the “bank” accounts of big buildings/real estate, of numbers of people(as if satan takes us up to a high place and says”See all those people? They can be yours, IF...”.
Please don’t mistake my rambling for envy or any form of jealousy. In my 33+ years of being a pastor, I’ve pastored nine congregations, and have known 99% of the people by name and their stories. My heart breaks, not for the 1% I didn’t and don’t get to know, the nones and domes I get to call “friends” but will only participate in the “TOV” space of church suppers that will welcome everybody.
And my heart breaks over my shortcomings of missing the proverbial boat of being there for someone “just because.”
Thank you for today’s post!
I was friends on with Christopher Stroop (now Chrissy Stroop) on Twitter until he started acting divisive and advocating a furtherance of fissures in American society, much like foreign paid operatives act. After confirmation that his activities were akin to those of a Russian troll, I blocked him and went on w my life.
That writing a book has given Chrissy a platform in evangelicalism caught me off guard. But isn’t that the way operatives wind themselves into influencing our country, if in fact Stroop’s alleged operative-like activity were to actually mean that he is one.