“We want to hold our pastors and elders to the highest possible standards of integrity, humility, charity, and pastoral sensitivity.”
“We want to hold our pastors and elders to the highest possible standards of integrity, humility, charity, and pastoral sensitivity. While we are certainly concerned that our churches operate in accordance with civil law in these matters, the bar is set far higher than basic legal compliance. We are concerned not merely with the civil administration of justice, but also with assuring that the Church’s ministry of truth, grace, and compassion has been faithfully carried out in the situations under review.”
CREC Presiding Ministers
“We are concerned not merely with the civil administration of justice, but also with assuring that the Church’s ministry of truth, grace, and compassion has been faithfully carried out in the situations under review.”
Oh, those silly CREC reviewers with their only concern being the ability to keep their jobs after their debacle of a report.
Personally, I made a decision a few years back that a work situation was out of control. I put things in play that ensured a former employer made good on financial responsibilities that had been willfully ignored. The employer paid up. And after the fear and shock of the situation wore off, all of the employees are now in better, more secure lines of employment and living great lives without the stress of wondering where their next paycheck is coming from, or if the building rent had been paid.
When I took on this mission, I didn’t know how it was going to turn out. I was scared, and so were my fellow employees. None of us knew what was around the next bend. But we all wound up in a better place after a short shaking of the tree. It paid off to jump and pray all would turn out well.
I would encourage the presiding ministers of the CREC to take inspiration in this. It is terrifying to take a step in the right direction. The dividends from a leap of faith, however, are priceless, and not limited to those few who are nervous about taking such a grand step into the unknown. The rewards of steadfast faith in doing right over what is comfortable are there for everybody.